§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider prohibiting officials of county A.E.Cs. from using steel-jawed gin traps to catch rabbits as this type of trap results in the maiming of, and not the killing of, large numbers of the animals that contact them.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI assume my hon. Friend refers to the setting of gin traps in the open. I am advised that there are localities where this method affords the only practicable means of keeping rabbits under adequate control, and in view of the serious food position I do not yet feel justified in prohibiting the use of that method in such cases. I have, however, laid down stringent conditions governing the issue of permits, and these were published in the OFFICIAL REPORT OF 7th March. 1946