36. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the failure of his campaign to prevent the increase of rabbits in agricultural areas through the carelessness of a few people who have neglected to destroy the few rabbits on their land; and what action he proposes to take in the limited time still available to him before the rabbit again becomes an expensive and wasteful pest.
Mr. AmoryI agree that there is scope for much more vigorous action against rabbits by many occupiers. Where, after due warning, occupiers fail to carry out their responsibility to deal with rabbits on their land, my officers are instructed to enter and take action under my statutory powers. I shall not hesitate to take vigorous default action as required.
Mr. VaneIs my right hon. Friend aware that such action is not likely to prove effective, that the rabbit is all but out of control again, and that unless after this harvest he manages somehow or another, with or without the aid of the police, to have the rabbits put down, we shall once again find the country having to import millions of pounds worth of food every year to make up for what the rabbits have eaten?
Mr. AmoryI think that rabbit control can best be done by voluntary co-operation, as far as that is possible. Where that fails, then, as I say, I shall not hesitate to take default action, which, I believe, is the most effective action which so far we have been able to devise.