§ 71. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Agriculture the present position with regard to myxomatosis in rabbits; and what progress has been made with his scientific investigations into this disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleIn reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 28th January last. Since then a further outbreak of the disease has been confirmed in Kent.
With regard to the second part, a study has been made of the scientific investigations into myxomatosis undertaken in Australia and elsewhere. Some recent investigations have been carried out on islands off the Scottish coast and others 61W are contemplated both there and on the mainland. The main line of research will be into the ecology and distribution of mosquitoes and other rabbit-biting insects. This work cannot begin until the spring when the mosquito becomes active again.