§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will request the Agricultural Research Council to set up a committee to examine the causes of canary stain in wool.
Mr. VaneThe discolouration of the fleece known as canary stain was considered, along with other problems of wool production, by the Joint Committee of the Agricultural Research and Improvement Councils early in 1959. The Committee consulted the bodies concerned with sheep breeding and disease in drawing up a comprehensive list of topics needing investigation which was forwarded to the Agricultural Research Council. The Ministry's veterinary staff have since co-operated with the National Agricultural Advisory Service in a study of the downgrading of wool from this cause in the county of Devon. Their report, which is expected shortly, may indicate the lines of further investigation. I am asking the Council to let me know what steps they have in mind for dealing with this difficult problem.