§ Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the functions of the Advisory Council on Rabbit Clearance.
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to extend the purview of the Advisory Council on Rabbit Clearance to include other agricultural pests. The members of the Council have been good enough to agree to an extension of their terms of reference. These are now
To advise on measures for expediting rabbit clearance and on other matters referred to them in connection with the effective control of mammals and birds harmful to agriculture.My hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to my Department will be Chairman of the reconstituted Council.The Land Pests Advisory Committee has been dissolved and I do want to express my thanks to the Committee for the help which I have received from it. Mr. A. D. Middleton and Mr. F. W. Ward, formerly members of the Committee, and Mr. J. F. Holman and Mr. W. B. Swan have been appointed to the new Council.