Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Minister of Supply what is the constitution and nature of the Wool Control; what staff is being employed, and how was it selected; what the powers and activities of the control are; and the names of the responsible directors and their salaries?
§ Mr. BurginThe Wool Control has been instituted for the purpose of regulating the supplies, prices and distribution of wool. The staff at present employed numbers 350 and the technical officers have been selected by the Controller from firms engaged in the trade. The present powers of the Control are contained in three orders which I have made under the Defence Regulations, 1939, and provide that dealings in wool in the United Kingdom shall only be conducted under licence and at prices not exceeding certain maxima. In addition, powers have2110W been taken to obtain returns of stocks of wool and other information necessary for the effective working of the Control. Collaboration is also maintained with Government Departments in the arrangements for placing orders for goods made of wool.
The Control, which is a Department of the Ministry, is under the direction of Sir Harry Shackleton, with Mr. W. A. Crowther as his deputy, both of whom have offered their services without remuneration.