§ 47. Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the menace to fruit growers and farmers generally by the spread of the grey squirrel in this country; and whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee at once to consider and report what steps should be taken by legislation or otherwise to counteract this danger?
§ Dr. ADDISONAs I stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Rosbotham) on the 8th December last, the damage caused by grey squirrels has already been brought to my notice and steps have been taken to give publicity to their distribution and destructiveness, and the necessity for their control. At the request of the National Farmers' Union and other interested parties, I am arranging to convene a conference with various organisations, in order that consideration should be given to the steps which can best be taken to deal with this pest. I hope that, as a result of this conference, immediate and effective measures will be taken, but, 599 in the meantime, I do not think it necessary to appoint a Departmental Committee.
§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNWhat is the use of these conferences at a time when the grey squirrels are breeding?