THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they propose to take to deal with the alarming and rapidly growing menace of grey squirrels and rabbits which are both beginning to get quite out of hand and beyond the resources of private individuals and voluntary local organisations that exist; and whether they agree that without some immediate intervention by the Government, the crisis might have repercussions on the national interest, of the kind that arose in the pre-myxomatosis days, or in a lesser degree, in the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
1584WA
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (THE EARL OF LIMERICK)My Lords, reports received by my right honorable friend the Minister of Agriculture do not support the noble Earl's view that rabbits and grey squirrels are increasing in numbers to crisis levels. I can only repeat what my noble friend Lord Ferrers said to the noble Lord, Lord Hawke, in reply to his question on August 3. It is the responsibility of occupiers to control pests on their land. Where the necessary resources are lacking I have no doubt that commercial pest control firms would undertake the work.
House adjourned for the Summer Recess at eleven minutes past six o'clock, until Monday, September 11, 1972.