asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has investigated the statements made by Deputies in the Dáil (Volume 123, columns 1615 and 1641) concerning the sale of blankets, whether there is any foundation for these statements, and, if so, what action he has taken or intends to take to punish the offenders, and if he will ensure that the excess prices which were charged will be refunded to the purchasers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Blankets.
I have had the statements made in the Dáil concerning the sale of blankets by manufacturers investigated, and I find that the prices charged by manufacturers are substantially those quoted by the Deputies, and are due to the increased cost of raw wool.
Blankets are in the main made from pick and super Irish wool, the price of which has risen from 28 pence per lb. in June, 1949, to 108 pence per lb. last month. The present price is approximately 124 pence per lb. Allowing for loss in weight in conversion, the cost of the wool when prepared for manufacture into blankets has risen by as much as 107 pence per lb., viz. from 37 pence per lb. in June, 1949, to 144 pence per lb. last month.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary made inquiries or assured himself in any way that the blankets and other articles in respect of which enhanced prices are being charged are manufactured from wool purchased at the higher prices? Is he not aware that there are many commodities, including blankets, being retailed at the higher prices which are manufactured from wool bought at the 1948-49 price level?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the bulk of the wool was bought from farmers this year at about 4/- per lb.?
I am not so aware— it was very much to the contrary.
In reply to Deputy Lehane's supplementary, the information that I have shows that the price of raw wool in June, 1949, was approximately 28 pence. At the beginning of this year it had risen to 42 pence. I understand there is an allowance of approximately one-third for shrinkage in manufacture. That means that the cost of the raw wool converted into blankets stood at 37 pence, 56 pence, 76 pence and 144 pence on the respective dates, allowing for the cost of conversion, sorting, scouring, spinning, weaving and finishing. Taking the price of the raw wool at 28 pence, the price of the finished article would be 72 pence; when it was 42 pence the price of the finished article would be 91 pence, when it was 59 pence the cost of the finished article would be 111 pence, and when the cost of the raw wool was 108 pence the cost of the finished article would be 179 pence.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware——
Question No. 70.