HC Deb 21 July 1942 vol 381 c1397
34. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will prevent pest officers from ordering the indiscriminate destruction of badgers since these animals generally do more good than harm?

Mr. T. Williams

I appreciate that badgers only occasionally cause damage to agricultural crops and are on balance beneficial to agriculture. My right hon. Friend will take steps to bring to the notice of the pests officers of county war agricultural executive committees the uh-desirability of the indiscriminate destruction of badgers.