§ 70. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether many tons of food would have been saved, our poultry supply much increased, and our supply of eggs augmented, except for the refusal of the Food Department to offer a reward for the destruction of foxes last winter, when requested to do so; that owing to the wet harvest an abnormal quantity of grain was scattered about the fields which might have fed poultry, who were prevented availing themselves of it through the abnormal quantity of foxes; whether he will now issue a reward of 20s. per head for every fox killed; whether he will consider if there are any safe methods by which their destruction may be attempted by poison; and whether he will inform those who desire to retain foxes for sport that they can easily renew the supply by importing from Ireland and America. when the War is over?
§ Mr. CLYNESMy hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Poultry have fed as usual on the grain left in the harvest field, and the quantity of food that would have been saved if there had been a reward offered for the destruction of foxes may be regarded as negligible. I may add that the Food Production Department of the Board of Agriculture are in communication with the Master of Foxhounds Association in order to secure the performance of their promise to effect a normal reduction of foxes throughout the country.