VISCOUNT MERSEYMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they will reintroduce the cash bonus scheme for the destruction of grey squirrels, in view of the rapid increase in the number of these pests.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)MY Lords, 375 representations have been made to my right honourable friend on this subject, and he is, of course, giving consideration to them.
§ VISCOUNT BRENTFORDMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he can encourage his right honourable friend to give them favourable consideration, because this is an exceedingly serious matter, particularly in those counties where agriculture is predominant? Very little action has been taken to remove these pests during the past eighteen months and they are becoming a serious menace.
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, my right honourable friend will give consideration to this matter, as I have already told noble Lords, but I really must not anticipate what results his consideration will lead him to.
§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that while the Minister is giving consideration to these matters these grey squirrels are increasing with great rapidity in Sussex and in other Southern counties?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I am well aware of the great menace that grey squirrels are to foresters and agriculturists generally, but I cannot say whether my right honourable friend will come to the conclusion that the proper way to keep them down is to pay a bonus on their tails.
VISCOUNT MERSEYMy Lords, may I thank the noble Earl for his reply to my Question? I am very pleased to hear that something is going to happen—or so I gather from his remarks. When can we expect anything definite? Or would the noble Earl like me to put down a further Question at an early date when we resume?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, a further Question would always be helpful, and I shall be as helpful as I can, and always try to be, in my Answers, but I am afraid that I cannot at the moment say when my right honourable friend is likely to make any pronouncement on this particular subject.
§ LORD WINSTERMay I ask whether the noble Earl is aware that in Cyprus we had a similar trouble, not with grey squirrels but with the carob rat, and we instituted a system of paying a reward for the tails of these carob rats? The result was that we caused a very flourishing and prosperous industry of breeding carob rats all through the island.
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I was not aware of that interesting state of affairs, but I will certainly convey it to my right honourable friend, who may take it into consideration when he is doing his considerations.