§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the discontinuance of the guaranteed price for wool; and what plans he has to reconsider his decision.
§ Mr. CurryTermination of the wool guarantee will give the industry financial responsibility for its own affairs, allowing it to respond more directly to market forces. Although there will be some short-term impact on producers' returns, their total returns from wool amount to only approximately 5 per cent. of the total return from sheep production. The Government have no plans to reconsider this decision, which will be implemented by means of the Agriculture Bill.