§ Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the estimated number of rabbits in England and Wales in the 1026WA following years in each year from 1970 to 1977 and what number of prosecutions were taken out against landowners or occupiers by the Ministry of Agriculture in those years under the Pest Act 1954 for failing to control their rabbit population.
§ Lord STRABOLGINo estimates are made of the rabbit population. However annual sample surveys, instituted in 1973, give a general indication of trends in rabbit infestation on agricultural land in England and Wales. Over the 5 years 1973–77 respectively these surveys established the presence of rabbits on 20.1 per cent., 18.6 per cent., 18.1 per cent., 21.4 per cent. and 23.3 per cent. of the land concerned. Over the period to which the noble Lord refers there have been no prosecutions against occupiers for neglecting their statutory duty to control rabbits on their land. Persuasion remains the preferred method.