49. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that the racing pigeon is in some cases the sole source of the working man's recreation, every endeavour will be made to ensure that the racing pigeon shall not be exterminated by permitting a reasonable percentage to receive the necessary ration; and, in particular consider men in the forces, Home Guard, fire services and on munitions, who, owing to their duties, are unable to join the National Pigeon Service, and thus render their birds liable to be destroyed?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 4th March to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolver-hampton (Mr. Mander).
Mr. De la BèreWill not my hon. and gallant Friend have a heart? Does he not see that the amount of grain involved is only negligible and that some of these poor people would derive great benefit from having their birds preserved?
§ Sir John MellorIs the hon. and gallant Member satisfied that racing pigeons are getting a fair deal as compared with other racing animals?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThere has been a very heavy reduction in the number of horses in training, for instance, and while I agree that the reduction in pigeons is heavy, it is not so very much heavier.