§ 67. Lieut.-Colonel Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average price paid to farmers for the 1947 wool crop; what was the average price paid by the Government to merchants who received, graded and handled the wool; and what was the average price received by the Government from manufacturers and others after resale by auction or otherwise.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe accounts for payment to farmers for the 1947 United Kingdom wool clip are not yet complete, but the average price paid will probably be approximately the same as in 1946, that is about 1s. 5½d. per lb. The merchants to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers do not buy the wool as principals, but act as agents of the Agricultural Departments, and are paid according to the services they render. The average price received by the Agricultural Departments from the sale of this wool during the current season up to 31st December was just under 2s. per pound gross, from which must be deducted administrative and marketing costs.
§ 68. Lieut.-Colonel Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total weight of the wool crop for 1947.
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§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe total weight of United Kingdom fleece wool collected by the Agricultural Departments during 1947 was approximately 45½ million lbs. There still remains a small quantity of wool as yet undelivered by farmers which will probably bring the total to between 47 and 48 million lbs.