§ Mr. Sextonasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will give the total weight and cost of the 200,000 blankets, which have been ordered in connection with Civil Defence, as stated in paragraph 68 of White Paper on Defence, Cmd. 5944; whether all, or any, of the wool used in the manufacture of the blankets was produced by home sheep-farmers; and what percentage of the total was so produced;
(2) what action the Government is taking, or has taken, in the interests of sheep-farmers to ensure that all home-produced wool is used in the manufacture of the further large supply of blankets for which tenders have been asked; and, further, what action is to be taken in respect to future Government contracts for woollen goods?
§ Mr. ElliotThe total weight of the wool referred to in the first question is 775,000 lbs., of which four-fifths is Empire grown, nearly one-half being home grown. For reasons which I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate I could not properly state the cost. I am advised that in view of the limited production of raw wool in the United Kingdom in relation to the general demand, it would not be practicable to require that future supplies should be made entirely of home-grown wool.