HC Deb 15 December 1932 vol 273 cc540-1W
Mr. TOUCHE

asked the Minister of Agriculture the names of the counties in which musk rats have been found?

Major ELLIOT

Since the passing of the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932, on 17th March last, musk rats have been found at large in Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. With the exception of the infestation in Shropshire, which has spread into the adjacent parts of Montgomeryshire, no colonies of the animals, as opposed to isolated individuals, have been discovered. The presence of musk rats at large has been suspected, but not definitely confirmed in Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire, Stafford-shire, Suffolk and Yorkshire.

Mr. TOUCHE

asked the Minister of Agriculture the progress made in the extermination of musk rats in Surrey?

Major ELLIOT

There is at present nothing to add to the reply given to the question put to my predecessor by my hon. Friend on 30th June last. A musk rat was recently reported to have been killed at. Compton, near Guildford, but the animal in question has since been identified as a water rat.