§ 39. Sir G. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approximately how many coypu have been destroyed in each of the last four years in England and in East Anglia, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe coypu is confined to East Anglia where the numbers destroyed during this period were 1,137 in 1970; 2,196 (1971); 3,243 (1972); and 8,336 (1973). Although these figures reveal a sharp and encouraging increase in the returns from the trapping efforts, which have been intensified of late, they leave no room for complacency. The recent succession of mild winters has been exceptionally favourable for breeding, and coypu numbers have been tending to increase. We are aiming for a significant net reduction in the population over the next few months.