§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has approached the Masters of Foxhounds Association with regard to the increasing number of foxes and their increasing destruction of valuable food; whether be has urged the adoption of measures for the protection of farmers and poultry-keepers against the depredations of foxes; and what steps he intends to take to see that any recommendations made are carried into effect?
§ Mr. ACLANDAs I informed the hon. Member, in reply to the similar question he addressed to me on the 16th September, the Board made strong representations to the Masters of Foxhounds Associations on the subject of the depredations by foxes in various parts of the country. I am now glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that a reply has been received from the association, dated the 15th instant, which shows that up to that date replies had been received by the association from a large number of Hunts. Without exception, they all state that it is their intention to give effect to the Board's representations by reducing the number of foxes. In many cases it is stated that more foxes have been killed than ever before. In view of these assurances, I do not think2016W that any immediate action of a more drastic nature is called for on the part of this Board, who will, however, continue to keep the matter under close observation. Instructions have been issued to that effect to the Board's officers in various parts of the country.