HC Deb 25 October 1956 vol 558 c72W
66. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent more rabbits have appeared since harvest ; if he is satisfied that the county committees' arrangements are working satisfactorily for destroying rabbits where occupiers have failed to deal with them ; and in which parts of the country myxomatosis is now evident.

Mr. Nugent

Reports received do not suggest that there has been any marked increase in the number of rabbits in England and Wales since harvest. Where there is evidence that occupiers have failed to deal with rabbits on their land, action by the county committee has usually had the desired effect. Myxomatosis still continues to spread slowly amongst sparse populations of rabbits in parts of Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Merioneth and there is also a recurrence of the disease in Hampshire, whilst minor outbreaks have been reported from time to time in other parts of the country.