HL Deb 20 February 1952 vol 175 cc103-4

3.5 p.m.

LORD AMULREE

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is to be understood, from the statements made on their behalf in the House of Lords debate on November 28, 1951. that they have accepted responsibility for promoting the designing of a rabbit trap which would be as effective and as easily transported as the gin trap now in use, but less cruel; whether the co-operation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been invited; and, if not, whether that will be done, and provision made from the funds of the Department for such expenditure as may be necessary.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD CARRINGTON)

My Lords, the Government have not taken responsibility for promoting the designing of a rabbit trap to replace the gin trap, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has not, therefore, been asked to assist. The Government has, however, organised trials and assisted in the development of the most promising trap so far designed for this purpose. Various models were submitted by inventors to the Agricultural Departments and to the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals for their examination. The Committee, as stated in their Report, were impressed with the principles of a particular new model and considered this design of trap to be in advance of any others submitted to them. They asked that the Ministry of Agriculture should try this trap, and arrangements were made for a number to be produced so that field trials could be undertaken. The trap, for which the rights are held by the inventor, has undergone several modifications which have been settled in consultation with him in the light of field experience. Machine-made traps are expected to be available shortly for wider scale field trials, as the preliminary field tests have supported the first impressions about the soundness of the principles on which the trap is based.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his full explanation in reply to my Question.