§ 3. Mr. Stodartasked the Minister of Public Buildings and Works whether, in view of the fact that spring has now officially arrived, he will provide a companion for the pelican in St. James's Park.
§ The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)I hope that Paul will not be lonely much longer as His Highness the Ameer of Bahawalpur, has very generously offered to send him companions.
§ Mr. StodartIs my right hon. Friend aware of the great joy that this announcement will give to the pelican in the park? Has he noticed the indications in recent days of a desire for companionship? May I assume from what my right hon. Friend has just said that he is possessed of knowledge, which was denied to his predecessors, about the sex of pelicans? If he is not possessed of such knowledge, would he consider obtaining a larger number of pelicans so that the law of average might thereby give nature a better chance of taking its course?
§ Mr. RipponIt is difficult to find out the sex of pelicans, but so far we have been fairly accurate. It is rather an academic question because no eggs have been laid, much less hatched, by any of these birds, and we have been keeping them since the time of Charles II.