§ 28. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Food whether, with the object of increasing current food supply and improving the potential output from crops, he will consider encouraging the trapping of wild rabbits by increasing the maximum retail price.
§ Mr. StracheyThe present maximum retail prices for wild rabbits are, in my view, as high as it is reasonable to ask consumers to pay, and the maximum first-hand prices offer adequate inducement to farmers and trappers to kill the greatest possible -lumber for food, and so to minimise damage to growing crops.
§ Mr. CollinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the statement that the price offered gives sufficient remuneration to encourage trapping is not borne out by the facts, and that there would be a far greater number slaughtered if the suggestion embodied in the Question was followed?
§ Mr. StracheyThat is a matter of opinion. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and his advisers advise us, on the contrary, that if the price went up too high, there might be a temptation to leave breeding stocks on the land.