§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the legitimate methods available for controlling the rabbit population.
§ Mr. GummerIn order to prevent or reduce the damage caused by rabbits a wide range of legitimate control methods are available. These include shooting, gassing, trapping and the use of rabbit-proof fencing. My Department also funds a substantial programme of research into ensuring that controls are available which are not only effective but humane and environmentally safe.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the increase in myxomatosis in the rabbit population in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI have no information about the prevalence of myxomatosis in the rabbit population. However, the increasing rabbit population may have led to a greater number of individual rabbits being seen to be affected by the disease, without there necessarily being an increase in the percentage of the population affected.