HC Deb 17 November 1970 vol 806 c1024
16. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his economy cuts will include the cessation of official experiments in the laying of narcotic baits in the countryside.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

My Department is not carrying out any such experiments.

Mr. Farr

While thanking my hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him to agree that one of the more useless experiments carried out by the last Administration was that of destroying pigeons by poisoning at a cost of about 30s. per pigeon killed?

Mr. Stodart

I would not like to say that there is absoluately no place whatever for this type of experiment. Farmers may carry it out if they are licensed by my Department to do so, and it can have its uses in an attack on a considerable pest.