asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have decided that Crown immunity from existing legislation relating to the laying of poison baits against rabbits in England and Wales enables tests to be carried out on Government property of methods of rabbit control which are unlawful elsewhere.

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has recently authorised his scientists to undertake limited trials on Government property to see whether some effective and acceptable techniques of rabbit control can be developed for use if myxomatosis loses its virulence. The principal animal welfare and nature conservation interests have been notified in advance of the intention to conduct these trials; and the Government would not of course seek legislation to permit the general use of any technique of that kind without first being satisfied, from field experience, that the method would be humane to the rabbit and would not expose other species to unacceptable risks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have yet received the Commercial Court Committee's report on the law relating to arbitration.

The Government have received the report, which will be laid before Parliament and published tomorrow, Wednesday, 19th July.I should like to take this opportunity to welcome the report on the Government's behalf, and to thank the Commercial Court Committee for their useful and timely recommendations about the need to revise the special case procedure and to enable it to be excluded in certain international arbitration agreements. Because of the importance to the economy of maintaining this country as a centre for international arbitrations, the Government are giving the Committee's recommendations immediate consideration, with a view to introducing legislation as soon as practicable. The Government would welcome comments on the report from those interested.House adjourned at twenty minutes before eleven o'clock.