§ 12. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it the practice of his Department to refer to the grey squirrel as the tree rat.
§ Mr. Peter MillsNo, Sir. I have it on good scientific authority that this pest is not a rat.
§ Mr. ChapmanDoes not my hon. Friend realise that this horrible little mammal is responsible for making the native red squirrel almost extinct and for destroying many of our trees, sycamores, and beeches in particular? In the circumstances, is he satisfied that Clause 20 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is adequate to deal with this unwanted immigrant pest?
§ Mr. MillsThe short answer is, "Yes, Sir". After a lot of research, I can 227 assure my hon. Friend that squirrels are in the family called Sciuridal and rats are of the family called Muridae, which shows clearly that these squirrels are not rats.