HC Deb 18 November 1954 vol 533 c58W
81. Sir L. Ropner

asked the Minister of Agriculture to give an estimate of the cost and time which would be required to exterminate completely rabbits in Great Britain.

Mr. Amory

I am afraid there are no reliable data on which to make such an estimate.

83. Mr. G. Williams

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the agricultural executive committees have sufficient portable gassing appliances to loan to those who are anxious to rid the country of rabbits that have escaped myxomatosis.

Mr. Amory

Most county agricultural executive committees have hand pumps and 22 of them have portable power gassing machines which are available for hire to farmers; but the normal method for gassing the comparatively small number of rabbits that have survived outbreaks of myxomatosis will be by placing gassing powder inside the entrance to the burrow.