54. Mr. Hardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether myxomatosis is still active in this country; and to what extent rabbits are reappearing in areas previously cleared by the disease.
186W
Mr. AmoryMyxomatosis is still smouldering or slowly spreading among light infestations of rabbits in parts of Cumberland, south Lancashire, West Riding of Yorkshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire and, to a lesser extent, in Merionethshire. Small outbreaks have also been reported in other counties which were virtually cleared by the disease. At this time of the year it is difficult to assess the rabbit population, but reports show that rabbits in small but slowly increasing numbers are appearing in most areas of England and Wales. A substantial proportion of these rabbits are young ones. Reports of reinfestation are being followed up expeditiously by county pests staffs.