§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider introducing a fall-back system of support available to low volume producers to enable higher returns than farmgate prices to be paid for wool to ensure the national flock is clipped annually.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from integrated parties about the proposal to terminate the guaranteed price for wool; and how many supported the proposed change.
§ Mr. CurryI have received a small number of representations to the effect that the wool guarantee should be retained.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost to United Kingdom sheep producers of the proposal to terminate the guaranteed price for wool; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe wool guarantee is intended to operate as a means of price stabilisation, not continuous support. However, there will be some short term impact on producers' returns, of the order of £26 million in relation to the 1993 clip. Total direct subsidies payable to sheep farmers in respect of 1992 are estimated to amount to about £480 million.