§ MR. J. W. BARCLAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Supreme Court in Scotland as to the trapping of rabbits under the Ground Game Act; and, whether the Government will introduce a Bill to amend the Act, so as to give farmers full liberty to trap rabbits?
SIE WILLIAM HARCOURTI am informed there has been a decision, which has astonished a good many people, including the promoters of the Bill, to the effect that a hole made by a rabbit is not a rabbit hole; that it is essential to a hole that it should have a top. I do not know whether that is the correct view of the Act, or whether it is the view of those who promoted it; but if it should turn out to be the case I will do all I can to assist my hon. Friend in amending the Act.