THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can make available the sterilisation-impregnated maize, or something similar, for the benefit of the agricultural community and horticulture and for towns, for use against pigeons (as is the case in Geneva), and whether it, or any other such, can be used against other pests, such as grey squirrels.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is currently conducting laboratory and field trials with a chemical designed to inhibit the breeding capacity of town pigeons, but it is too early to say with what success. It is possible that Section 5(1)(a) of the Protection of Birds Acts 1954/1967 may prohibit the laying of bait impregnated with this drug and there is no provision under existing legislation for authorising such an operation by licence. Nevertheless, if an efficient, safe and humane method of restricting the population of town pigeons, or indeed of any other pest, is eventually developed it may be necessary to consider whether certain changes in the law are required.
Her Majesty's Government has no knowledge of any successful experimental work in Geneva with a reproduction inhibitor, but if the noble Lord has any such information which he could make available to my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, it will be studied with interest.
The noble Lord mentioned the possibility of using such a method of control against grey squirrels. I am advised that it would have to be applied over a very large area to be effective, because areas in which the population of squirrels was being reduced would soon be recolonised.