§ Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the increasing danger to public health caused by the flocking of gulls to reservoir waters belonging to water undertakers; whether he will take steps to amend the law so as to enable water undertakers to prevent the pollution of their water supplies by the destruction of gulls, wild duck and other fowl whose recourse to garbage heaps and sewage works and subsequent settlement on reservoirs constitute a serious danger to public health; and whether he will receive a deputation from the British Waterworks Association to discuss the matter?
§ Sir S. HoareI have not received any general representations on this subject, nor, I understand, has my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. Any proposal to amend the law so as to permit the killing of gulls or other wild birds during the close season would need to be carefully examined, but I should be glad to consider any representations which the British Waterworks Association desires to make.