§ 64. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proportion of the acreage of England and Wales is now a rabbit-free area; what action is being taken to increase this acreage during the present favourable period; and what precautions are in operation to maintain disinfestation by this pest.
Mr. AmoryMyxomatosis has taken a heavy toll of rabbits over about four-fifths of the country, and it is still spreading in some areas, mainly in the north. County agricultural executive committees are co-operating with local representative organisations to ensure that full advantage is taken of conditions this winter to destroy surviving rabbits. A little over one-third of the country has already been 215W scheduled as rabbit clearance areas under the Pests Act, and further areas are in process of designation.