§ 14. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDasked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken by inspectors or by the police to prevent contraventions by restaurants of the provisions of the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Act contains no provisions for the appointment or employment of inspectors, and it would not be feasible for the police to undertake any systematic visitation of restaurants for the purpose of seeing whether the Act is observed. If information is supplied to them appropriate action is taken, and special watch is kept at places where plovers' eggs are likely to be sold. In March of this year I caused a special notice to be published in the Press calling attention to the provisions of the Act.
§ 15. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REIDasked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have been initiated by his Department in the last 12 months under the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928; what proportion of these prosecutions has been against dealers or poulterers, and what proportion against restaurant keepers; how many of these prosecutions were for the sale of plovers' eggs, and how many for the sale of plovers during the close season; and what was the total number of convictions obtained under these four heads?
§ Sir J. GILMOURProceedings for contraventions of the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928, are not initiated by my Department, but I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no prosecutions have been taken in the Metropolitan Police District under the Act during the past 12 months. I have no information regarding prosecutions outside the Metropolitan Police District.