§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have decided that Crown immunity from existing legislation relating to the laying of poison baits against rabbits in England and Wales enables tests to be carried out on Government property of methods of rabbit control which are unlawful elsewhere.
308WA
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has recently authorised his scientists to undertake limited trials on Government property to see whether some effective and acceptable techniques of rabbit control can be developed for use if myxomatosis loses its virulence. The principal animal welfare and nature conservation interests have been notified in advance of the intention to conduct these trials; and the Government would not of course seek legislation to permit the general use of any technique of that kind without first being satisfied, from field experience, that the method would be humane to the rabbit and would not expose other species to unacceptable risks.