HL Deb 21 April 1953 vol 181 cc987-8

2.40 p.m.

LORD ELTON

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 the recent decision to introduce the bounty system for the control of grey squirrels was taken on the advice of the leading ecological authorities, such as the Nature Conservancy and the Oxford Bureau of Animal Population; what precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the growth, as a result of the bounty, of a vested interest in the maintenance of the squirrel population; and why no instructions for the use of humane methods were issued with the announcement of the bounty.]

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

My Lords, the scheme was drawn up by the Forestry Commission and was based on the recommendations of an expert Committee after consideration of the best available advice. Progress will be systematically reviewed, and expert bodies such as those mentioned by the noble Lord will be consulted where necessary. The Commissioners are aware of the risk to which the noble Lord refers, but the restriction of the scheme to two years only, and the prohibition on the harbouring of squirrels under the Grey Squirrels (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order, 1937, are, in their view, sufficient safeguards. The importance of humane killing of trapped squirrels is stressed in the leaflets which have been issued on the subject.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Reply, which, up to a point, is very satisfactory. It is satisfactory to know that there is a strong Committee watching this experiment because, as the noble Lord doubtless knows, there is formidable ecological opinion against the experiment. I entirely accept what he says about the humane aspects, but perhaps he will agree that it is unfortunate that in the leaflet issued by the Forestry Commission there is a recommendation of the gin-trap without the caution that the trap has been described by the Scott-Henderson Committee as a diabolical instrument which ought to be abolished?

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, would the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, convey to the Forestry Commission also the desirability of publishing directions on how to cook and eat the said squirrels when captured, as that is probably the quickest way by which squirrels can be eliminated in this country?