§ 68. Mr. N. McLeanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the number of rabbits is steadily increasing in the Highlands and elsewhere; and whether he will sanction the payment of a grant towards the cost of approved 126W rabbit eradication schemes in order to encourage the formation of similar schemes and thus prevent a recurrence of the waste and damage to agriculture caused by rabbits before the outbreak of myxomatosis in this country.
§ Lord John HopeOn 7th February, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the Government's decision to make grants to approved rabbit clearance societies. Details of the grants have been made public, and my right hon. Friend hopes that occupiers of land will take full advantage of this opportunity to organise societies and to reduce the numbers of rabbits in the country.