Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 February 1954.
Sir William Anstruther-Gray
, Berwickshire and East Lothian
12:00,
18 February 1954
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the Caldra system of netting rabbits, upon which favourable reports have recently been received in Scotland; and what steps he is taking to further the use of this method in England in view of the fact that it is more humane than using traps and fully as effective on suitable terrain.
Mr Thomas Dugdale
, Richmond (Yorks)
Officers of my Department were present at the demonstration in Scotland referred to in the replies given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 2nd and 9th February by the Secretary of State and Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. They report that the Caldra system of netting rabbits would be effective when conditions were suitable for its use. I will consider whether I can usefully take any steps to bring this system of catching rabbits to the notice of farmers and others in this country.
Lieut-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore
, Ayr
In view of the promising nature of this and other methods of dealing with the rabbit population, would not my right hon. Friend indicate that he will be prepared to try to reduce the period before which the gin trap is abolished?
Mr Thomas Dugdale
, Richmond (Yorks)
That is a different point. This particular method is an extension of the old-established system of long netting. I have studied it very carefully and it can be effective on flat ground.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
