§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ask the Agricultural Research Council, or other appropriate bodies, to undertake research work as a matter of urgency into the use 425W of a contraceptive pill to control the rabbit population; and what study he has made of similar research work in any other country.
§ Mrs. FennerThe use of a contraceptive pill to control rabbit numbers has been evaluated by Ministry scientists and others, taking into account work done in other countries, but there seems little prospect of a suitable material becoming available at present. Most current compounds have been developed for use in human contraceptives and do not have the properties required for use in wild animals where a long-lasting single dose material is required.
Despite this and other problems, the use of contraceptives does have a number of theoretical benefits and the topic is being kept under review.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is currently being carried out, and at what public cost, into the possible use of poisoned bait for rabbit population control.
§ Mrs. FennerThe use of poisoned bait for rabbit control is illegal and no experimental work in the field using such bait is being undertaken.
The use of poisoned bait is being considered as one aspect of the Ministry's work to find the most effective form of rabbit control and work involving poisons is being conducted, but only in our laboratories. Field work is currently being undertaken, seeking to devise a technique resulting in a high take of bait by rabbits, with a minimal take by other species.
The current annual cost of this research is estimated at about £60,000.