§ 2. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the narcotic experiments on wood pigeons in the Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire areas last winter; and what progress has been made on further research.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Scott-Hopkins)The experiments in the narcotising of wood pigeons last winter included two in Huntingdonshire but none in Bedfordshire. Because of adverse weather, none of the experiments could be continued long enough for a proper assessment of the effectiveness of this means of control or of the degree of risk to wild life and to game birds. The experiments have been discontinued during the summer months, as the birds will not take the 426 narcotised bait then, but further experiments are contemplated for the winter of 1963–64.
§ Mr. HastingsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer, but does he realise that damage from this pest was probably heavier in Bedfordshire than in any other part of the country during last winter and that it resulted in the ruin of more than one grower? Will he please press on energetically with these experiments, and will he consider publishing the results so that we may judge whether they are successful or not?
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI agree with my hon Friend in saying that the damage which wood pigeons do to crops is extensive, and we shall continue with our experiments in the future. The details of these trials will be published in Agriculture, a publication of the Ministry.