RABBIT CLEARANCE (Hansard, 19 February 1952)

LORD MERTHYR
My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD CARRINGTON)
My Lords, following the announcement in 1950 of the rabbit clearance policy—with which, I may say, the Government agree—the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association asked their county organisations to convene joint meetings of interested persons to arrange voluntary area schemes of control. At the same time the Ministry instructed county agricultural executive committees, who were to be invited to send representatives to the joint meetings, to assist and advise in planning schemes and to use the powers they possess where voluntary effort was not forthcoming.
A special headquarters "Action Committee" was set up comprising representatives of the Ministry, the National Farmers' Union, the Country Landowners' Association, the Forestry Commission, the Railway Executive, and Service Departments, to examine and consider the progress of the campaign. Reports have been received from counties from time to time and, where action has fallen short of what is required, special representations have been made to the county organisations concerned. The latest reports show that well over 200 area schemes have been planned and the majority of these have been put into operation. Experience shows that success is most likely to be achieved in those counties where joint committees have been set up consisting of representatives of the National Farmers' Union, the Country Landowners' Association and the agricultural executive committees, and where an approach has been made to occupiers by these committees.

§ LORD ELTON
My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ LORD CARRINGTON
My Lords, the county agricultural executive committees have been instructed to charge 6s. 9d. per hour per operator when the services of their rabbit catchers are required by farmers or other occupiers of land. When gassing is carried out an additional charge is made to cover the cost of the gassing powder. Some reduction in these charges is allowed in exceptional cases: for example, when a large compact area is to be treated. The charges are intended to cover the cost of the work; that is to say, wages, transport, use of traps, ferret and snares and supervisory and administrative costs. Rabbits caught by county agricultural executive committee rabbit catchers are the property of the occupier with whom the contract has been made, and they are therefore normally handed to the occupier. But if the occupier wishes the committee to dispose of the rabbits caught, they would be sold at the normal market price and a handling charge of 2d. per pound would be made. The net proceeds would then go to the occupier.

§ LORD ELTON
My Lords, may I thank the Minister far his reply and add that, since I understand that under the Agriculture Act of 1947 the Minister has power to provide these services free, or partly free, I hope he will consider making concessions in cases of hardship where farmers are not able to hear the whole charge? Such concessions would contribute to effective rabbit clearance and, therefore, indirectly to the preservation of a good deal of our crops.

§ LORD CARRINGTON
My Lords, it is the responsibility of the occupier to deal with his own rabbits. In point of fact, at the rates which are charged by the county agricultural executive committee operators there is really no charge whatever on the farmer, as there is usually a profit when the rabbits are sold.