§ 149. Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now take action to try to destroy the warfarin-resistant rats now contained within an area of about 400 square miles on both sides of the Welsh border in Montgomeryshire and Salop.
§ Mr. John MackieNo. This is impracticable. Research is being done to find an effective alternative to warfarin and at the same time we are actively engaged in a holding operation which will slow down the rate of spread of resistant rats from the affected area.
§ 150. Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will grant special financial assistance to the Montgomeryshire Rabbit Clearance Society Limited to help tackle the work of clearing farms in their area of warfarin-resistant rats on the same lines as the grants allocated in Norfolk to combat coypu.
§ Mr. John MackieAs I have explained to the hon. and learned Member, warfarin-resistant rats present quite different problems from coypu and I do not see any justification in present circumstances for the action he proposes.