HL Deb 18 May 1970 vol 310 cc891-2

2.43 p.m.

LORD HENLEY

My 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 when legislation will be introduced to permit the lawful use of Warfarin in England and Wales to control grey squirrels.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, my right honourable friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is currently conducting field experiments to develop a safe and efficient method of presenting Warfarin to grey squirrels without risk to other wild life. If these trials are completed successfully, Her Majesty's Government will be better placed to consider the desirability, or otherwise, of introducing appropriate legislation.

LORD HENLEY

My Lords, if the Government decide that it is not appropriate to introduce legislation to make it lawful to use Warfarin in England, will they introduce legislation to stop its lawful use in Scotland?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I gather that there is some slight difference in the legislation governing these matters in England and Scotland. I have no doubt that my Scottish friends will consider the results of the experiments to which I have referred.