§ Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Food if he will state, approximately, the loss annually in this country through the destruction of food by rats; and is the destruction increasing or diminishing.
§ Mr. StracheyAll authorities are agreed that the loss is very heavy, but I am afraid that it is impossible either to state even an approximate figure or to say whether the loss is increasing or decreasing. I can say, however, that it would be very much larger than it is but for the successful campaign waged by the Ministry over the past three years.
§ Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Food what scientific progress has recently been made by his Department in conjunction with leading research chemists for the production of more effective rodenticide; and with what result.
§ Mr. StracheyNo researches have so far been made by my Department into the production of new rodenticides. The pressing need is to ensure that those that exist are used, and are used effectively.