§ 16. Sir William Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in finding a suitable rabbit trap to replace the gin trap; and how far experiments carried out with the Miller Killmore trap show that it may 10 be suitable for his approval under Section 50 (2) of the Agriculture (Scotland) Act, 1948.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. James Stuart)Since August, 1948, 15 new model rabbit traps have been submitted by eight inventors for consideration as alternatives to the gin trap but, unfortunately, none has proved suitable for statutory approval under the provisions of the 1948 Act. Field tests of the Miller Killmore trap have shown that it is a humane killer, although it lacks the degree of efficiency of the gin trap. The trap has real possibilities, however, and further tests will be carried out as soon as an improved model on which I understand the inventor is at present working becomes available.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreDoes not the Sawyer trap fulfil all the requirements of efficiency and humanity?
§ Mr. StuartThe Sawyer trap is the other trap which definitely has possibilities, and it is also being examined further.