§ 37. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture at what date permission was given to import musk rats for the purpose of setting up the musquash farm at Shrawardine Pool, in Shropshire; whether any precautions 810 against escape were laid down in that connection; and whether any action is to be taken against the owner for permitting musk rats to escape from the farm?
§ Captain Sir GEORGE BOWYERI have been asked to reply. The musk rats in question were brought into this country in October, 1929, there being at that time no restrictions whatever on the importation and keeping of musk rats in Great Britain. Such restrictions only came into operation on the 1st May, 1932, following the making of an Order and Regulations under the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932. In these circumstances the second part of the question does not arise. The reply to the final paragraph is in the negative as no offence had been committed under the Act for which proceedings could be taken.
38. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the estimated number of musk rats in the County of Salop, over 1,000,000; and what action is being taken to deal with this menace to the rivers and reservoirs in England and Wales?
§ Sir G. BOWYERVarious unofficial estimates of the number of musk rats at large in Shropshire have been made but they are purely conjectural. As regards remedial or preventive action, the Ministry has 27 trappers at work under expert supervision in the infested area. Catchment Boards and canal owners throughout the country have been circularised and asked to report any signs of infestation, and an explanatory pamphlet has been prepared and widely circulated.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhile thanking the hon. and gallant Gentleman for that very comprehensive reply, may I ask him to assure farmers and others in various parts of Shropshire that the Department are doing their best to eliminate this danger?
§ Mr. MANDERIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is a very large stock of traps for catching these rats, in Wednesfield, where they are nearly all made?