HL Deb 26 July 1962 vol 242 cc1121-2

3.17 p.m.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow the use of narcotics for the destruction of wood pigeons.]

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, we have been experimenting for some time with narcotic baits in field trials against wood pigeons. The results have shown that these birds can be successfully narcotised but the method involves risks to protected and game birds, and the Government cannot at present authorise their use apart from these field trials. Further research is now in hand to see how far these risks can be reduced.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the damage from these birds is immense, and can he give any idea as to when these narcotics will be used?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, we are very well aware of the damage done. At the moment we cannot give a date when a narcotic of the necessary safety will be evolved.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what advice he is taking on this question? Are the Nature Conservancy and other bodies being consulted? And may I ask him also to bear in mind the strong views that were expressed in this House about the danger of using chemicals of any kind on nature without regard to the consequences? I should like to add that I support very strongly the Government's cautious approach.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, perhaps I did not point out clearly enough in my original Answer that these field trials are very limited and carried out entirely by the scientists of the Ministry. Therefore their scope, until a narcotic satisfactory in every way is found, will remain in the hands purely of the scientists, each of whom has to be issued a special licence by the Ministry.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, might I ask the noble Lord whether he used the word "narcotise" and, if so, why and what he thought it meant?

LORD ST. OSWALD

To knock out with a narcotic.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in Poland they use peas soaked in whisky and they are achieving a similar result? If the Government Will not allow the use of narcotics, will they consider abolishing the tax on whisky for this purpose?