§ Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the present controlled prices for home-grown wool are so unremunerative that thousands of casualty sheep cannot be disposed of and are buried as a total loss; and whether he will go into the matter with a view to avoiding this waste.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsMy right hon. Friend is aware that owing to transport difficulties and costs and risk of condemnation of the carcase, a number of casualty sheep, especially in hill districts, are buried and become a total loss. Members of the Farm Livestock Emergency Service assist farmers to dispose of these casualty animals, and an examination of the problem carried out towards the end of last year suggests that little more can be done under existing conditions to increase the number of casualty animals that are salvaged. Prices for home-grown wool are not the cause of the wastage to which the hon. Member refers.