HC Deb 09 December 1927 vol 211 cc1823-4

Lords Amendment:

In page 1, lines 18 and 19, leave out the words "access thereto of," and insert instead thereof the words "injury thereby to."

Major A. McLEAN

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Under the 1911 Act it is an offence to put down poison on land or buildings, but there is an exception in the case of any poison put down to kill rats, mice, and other vermin, providing all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent access by cows, etc. Since the 1911 Act was passed it has been discovered that this method of poisoning pests is specially applicable to small insects and so on, especially the larvæ of the cutworm and of the insect known as "Daddy Long-legs." This has long been the law in Scotland, where it works very well. When the Bill was before the House, where it passed through all its stages without any Division, for which I desire to thank hon. Members opposite, the House felt that it was wise to extend the protection that had been given previously to dogs, cats, fowls, and other domestic animals to wild birds, but the words giving that protection, "to prevent access thereto," were not strictly applicable to wild birds. I think it was felt that if we want to prevent damage to dogs, cats, fowls, and wild birds, it is far better to say so directly, and this Amendment merely takes that course.

The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.

Whereupon, Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 3.

Adjourned at Nineteen Minutes before Four o'Clock, until Monday next (12th December).