§ 4. Mr. Pageasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will initiate legislation extending to the remainder of the country the power granted to sanitary authorities in London by Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, to deal with nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by house doves and pigeons.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. J. R. Bevins)My right hon. Friend sees no prospect of initiating legislation for this purpose for some time to come, and he is not aware that local authorities generally want the power. The particular Section is, of course, chiefly aimed at conditions in towns. But if authorities do feel that they need 923 additional powers my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider their representations.
§ Mr. PageWill my hon. Friend take it from me that there are many towns which would like to exercise the rights London has to abate the nuisance from pigeons, particularly my constituency? Will he take the opportunity of squeezing a Clause into some convenient Bill to give the provinces the same power to deal with this nuisance as London has?
§ Mr. BevinsThe Government have a Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in preparation at the moment, and if the feeling in local government generally is that something should be incorporated into it, we will gladly examine the matter.