§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give the figures of the amount of money spent by rabbit clearance societies and of the Government contribution over the past twelve months.
Mr. VaneGovernment grant amounting to £218,000 was paid to societies in England and Wales during the year ended 31st January, 1962. This represents half their approved expenditure on the control of rabbits, woodpigeons and coypu, incurred mainly during 1960. In addition, societies spent a small sum on pests work that is not grant aided.