§ 10. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the 1969 series of narcotic bait layings in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John MackieBetween March and August this year farmers were licensed to lay stupefying bait in 286 Ministry-sponsored operations.
Approximately 3,200 wood pigeons were caught and humanely destroyed as well as a number of rooks, crows and feral pigeons. A small number of protected and game birds were caught but most of these recovered.
§ Mr. FarrI am grateful for that answer, but it is inadequate. What was the cost of these trials? Does the hon. Gentleman recall that last year they worked out at about 14s. of taxpayers' money per wood pigeon killed?
§ Mr. MackieThe cost of supervision—which is the only cost this year because the bait was paid for by the farmers—was about £8 or £9 for each separate operation, which, I readily admit, cost about £1 a bird. This is the price which we must pay in acceding to the pressures of farmers to use this method of control and to the demands of the protection societies and others to minimise the risk to other birds.