HC Deb 25 February 1954 vol 524 cc555-6
30. Mr. G. Williams

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cartridges have been supplied and at what price to National Farmers' Union branches for destroying pigeons.

Sir T. Dugdale

The bulk of the 4½ million cartridges, which have been supplied for distribution at 25s. per 100 through county agricultural executive committees for the organised shooting of birds harmful to agriculture, will be used for shooting wood pigeons. The county branches of the N.F.U. are helping to distribute these cartridges.

Mr. Williams

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some branches are short of cartridges? Is he putting any limit on the amount that can be supplied? If not. will he tell me how these people can get more?

Sir T. Dugdale

I will look into the point. There is no limit. It depends upon whether there are a lot of wood pigeon in the area or not. I am satisfied that organised shooting is having a successful result. In the North Riding of Yorkshire we had an organised shoot, and we reckoned that more than 50,000 wood pigeons were killed in one day.