§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the statement in newspapers that the authorities of the New College, Oxford, caused some jackdaws, who had built within the chapel, to be bricked up, causing the birds to linger, in a state of starvation, for five days, until they died; and, whether it is in his power to institute a prosecution for cruelty to animals in cases of this kind; and, if so, whether he will do so in this instance?
§ MR. HIBBERT (for Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT),in reply, said, that it was quite true that statements to the effect indicated had appeared, but since then denials had been made in The Times and Daily News, and from these it appeared that the allegations of cruelty were entirely unfounded. His right hon. and learned Friend had received a letter from the Warden of New College, in which he stated that it was quite true that orders were given to stop up certain holes in the walls, but it was not true that any birds were bricked up alive in the holes. These were carefully examined, and all other places where birds' nests had been built, by the persons employed in the work. He (the Warden) had no reason to suppose that there was any truth in the statement. It was to be regretted that the hon. Member had thought it necessary to put the Question after the denials which had appeared.