§ Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many experiments in the use of narcotic poison for killing pigeons he has allowed both in East Anglia and London; and if he will give an assurance that there will be no extension of such experiments.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe purpose of these experiments is not to kill the birds but to render them inactive. The pigeons are then painlessly killed, and any protected or game birds which may have been accidentally narcotised are released. In East Anglia an experiment in narcotising wood-pigeons is being carried out in the Carlton area near Newmarket. In the London area some 20 experiments with narcotics have been carried out against feral pigeons.
In view of the widespread and serious damage caused by these birds, my right hon. Friend feels that these experiments must continue so that we may see whether narcotics provide an effective, humane and safe method of control.
§ Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will grant financial allowances to pest officers who wish to keep properly trained retrieving dogs to ensure that all pigeons which they kill with narcotic poison are collected.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsAllowances are already available to Ministry officials who keep and use dogs for pest control, but dogs have not so far been used in the experiments in the narcotising of pigeons.