HC Deb 03 June 1938 vol 336 cc2419-20W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can initiate a plan whereby the value of rabbits offered for sale in the Home market could be maintained at such a level as to encourage occupiers of land to deal with them, and yet not sufficiently high as to justify land being devoted to their production, in view of the serious damage already being done to growing crops, and the unrestricted importation of frozen and fresh rabbits from overseas which tends to still further decrease market prices obtainable for those produced in this Country?

Mr. W. S. Morrison:

Imports of rabbits have steadily declined from 490,000 cwts. in 1933 to 218,000 cwts. in 1937, and during the first four months of the current year there has been a further small decline as compared with the corresponding period of last year. On the other hand, the price of English rabbits has increased during the last two years. I am unable to estimate what should be the value of rabbits in order to satisfy the conditions postulated by my hon. Friend.