§ Mr. P. OLIVERasked the right hon. Member for Cheltenham, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether the plovers' eggs supplied to Members of Parliament are, in fact, the eggs of the green plover or lapwing; and, if so, will he withdraw this item from the menu of the House, in view of the gradual extermination of the green plover, and the fact that in many parts of the country the taking of such eggs is prohibited by law?
§ Sir J. AGG-GARDNERIn reply to the hon. Member, while sympathising with
940WForestry Commissioners, what is the situation, acreage, cost per acre, specifying value of land and cost of planting, the number of plants planted, and the number of plants living on the land dealt with by the Forestry Commission in Devonshire since the Armistice in November, 1918?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Forestry Commissioners were not appointed until November, 1919. The following Table contains particulars of the areas in Devonshire dealt with by the Commission:
his desire for the preservation of the lapwing, I must point out that it is the duty of caterers to meet the legitimate wishes of those for whom they cater. It would, therefore, be difficult for our Committee to refuse to supply plovers' eggs when in season, and in a locality where their sale is legal. I would add that a good many eggs sold as plovers' eggs are taken from birds other than the lapwing, and, further, that the first layings of the lapwing are often, if not collected, destroyed by the plough, and by other birds and animals, and that our later supplies come from Holland.