§ 15. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Home Secretary whether he is able to give the House a rough estimate of the number of public centres in the United Kingdom where the shooting of trapped pigeons regularly takes place; and whether he has received any representations from the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals upon the methods of this so-called sport?
§ Mr. SHORTTIn answer to the first part of the question, I could not possibly 1696 get the information without imposing a large amount of labour on all police forces. The answer to the second part is in the negative.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWithout wishing to add to the labours of the police, is it not a fact that these centres are all very well known locally and would not a simple request from the right hon. Gentleman to these localities draw the required information, and if that was not enough are there not enough volunteers who would be only too ready to send the information to him to help to stop this dastardly practice?
§ Mr. SHORTTIf the hon. Gentleman will start the volunteer movement, I shall be very glad.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI shall be delighted if I have your backing.