HC Deb 28 October 1971 vol 823 cc472-3W
Miss Quennell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates the present grey squirrel population to be, compared with 20 years ago.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Surveys over this period have been concerned primarily with the spread of the grey squirrel population. By 1952 they were found in all counties of England and Wales except Caernarvon, Cornwall, Cumberland, Northumberland, the Isle of Wight and Anglesey. Since then they are known to have spread further and I will send my hon. Friend the results of the current survey as soon as it has been completed.