HC Deb 03 June 1954 vol 528 cc116-7W
Wing Commander Bullus

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to report on trials with the Imbra humane rabbit trap.

Sir T. Dugdale

Reports have now been received by myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on the use of this trap by county agricultural executive committees in England and Wales and on trials carried out by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland during the past trapping season. In the trials a fairly high proportion of the Imbra traps set caught rabbits on most locations after experience in handling the traps had been gained and the rabbits were nearly always killed outright. The trap appears to give best results in unobstructed burrows and on dry soil. In the comparative trials in Scotland, fewer rabbits were caught with the Imbra trap in its present form than were caught in gin traps. Copies of the Report are being placed in the Library.