§ 72. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the deliberate spreading of myxomatosis on a wholesale scale throughout many areas of the country and the suffering being inflicted thereby on the rabbits involved, whether he will recommend other methods of destroying these animals, such as by humane trapping, gassing or netting; and whether he will take steps to prohibit the further spreading of this disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleAll humane methods of destroying rabbits have been and will continue to be recommended. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Nottingham, East (Mr. J. Harrison) and Billericay (Mr. Braine) on 8th July.
§ 75. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Agriculture how much further myxomatosis has spread among rabbits in the last fortnight; and how many cases have been confirmed North of the Border.
§ Sir T. DugdaleDuring the past fortnight outbreaks of myxomatosis in wild56W rabbits have been confirmed in Breconshire, Caernarvonshire, Carmathenshire, Dorset, Flintshire, Herefordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire; and I understand that the first outbreak North of the Border was confirmed on Tuesday this week in Kincardineshire.