§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 March,Official Report, column 241, how he proposes to implement his plan in the event of a rabies outbreak to bring about the destruction of foxes in the infected area; and what assessment he has made of the impact of any control methods on other animals and bird species.
§ Mr. MacleanAction taken would depend on the circumstances and the geographical spread of any outbreak. Urban foxes might have to be controlled by shooting and trapping if poisoning were not possible but the main method of destroying foxes in an infected area would involve the use of poisoned bait. Trained Ministry staff would select and mark the baiting points and uneaten baits would be recovered and destroyed. Accidental casualties among other species would be kept to the minimum compatible with the task of stamping out any outbreak of rabies before it became established.