§ 38. Mr. Hopkinasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the enormous damage done to land in West Wales by moles, and to the high charges made for substitutes for strychnine, making the use of such substitutes almost prohibitive to farmers; and will he take steps to enable farmers to procure sufficient quantities of strychnine to clear the moles from their land?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithA complaint has recently been received from one farmer in West Wales about the damage caused by moles and the high cost of substitutes for strychnine used in the destruction of moles. The view hitherto held by my Department is that red squill, which can be obtained easily and cheaply and is comparatively harmless to other animals, is an effective substitute, but I am arranging for field experiments to be undertaken to test the effectiveness of this and other substitutes for strychnine. As regards the second part of the question, for the reasons stated in the reply which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 28th July last, I should not feel justified in asking the Poisons Board to recommend the relaxation of the present rule with a view of enabling farmers to obtain strychnine for mole destruction.
§ Mr. R. GibsonWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether hydrocyanic acid is used for the extermination of moles as it is for rabbits?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI could not say.