§ 7. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest progress in devising new methods of preventing damage to crops by pigeons.
Mr. AmoryExperiments with narcotics have not so far been successful. More work is therefore being concentrated on the biology and breeding habits of the wood-pigeon, and field experiments are being conducted this year in East Anglia to see whether wood-pigeons can be effectively controlled by the destruction of nests.
§ Mr. HillCan my right hon. Friend say whether the survey will give publicity to the feeding habits of these most voracious pests and, also, to the additional methods of destroying them other than shooting, particularly with reference to the possibility of controlling them in the nest?
Mr. AmoryYes, Sir. The investigations that are being made include investigations into the feeding habits of pigeons. It is surprising, but a fact, that at present we do not know everything we would like to know about this absolute pest, the pigeon. I will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.