§ 47. Sir J. Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the anxiety of pigeon fanciers in the east of Scotland regarding the deaths of large numbers of wild pigeons and other small birds; which agricultural colleges, for which he is responsible, are carrying out research into the cause of such deaths; whether they have yet identified the cause; and in which agricultural college he intends to concentrate such research.
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§ Mr. MaclayI have received no representations from pigeon fanciers about the deaths of wild pigeons, and the Scottish Agricultural Colleges are not investigating the deaths of wild birds. My Department, however, are in close touch with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who are carrying out a programme of investigation, including feeding trials of the insecticides used in seed dressings.