§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to increase the penalties for the killing of animals, including foxes, by the unlawful use of strychnine, in the light of the information being sent to him by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake.
§ Dr. SummerskillProvision is made in the Criminal Law Bill at present before Parliament for an increase in the maximum financial penalty for this offence from £50 to £500.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the possible dangers to domestic and wild life from the unlawful use of strychnine for killing foxes in order to obtain their pelts.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt is an offence under the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Regulations 1963 to put or place strychnine in or upon any land or building to destroy mammals of any description except moles. I understand that the RSPCA and the police are currently investigating incidents in which, it appears, foxes in certain parts of the country may have died from strychnine poisoning.