§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional financial support he will provide to local authorities which have severe problems with pigeons, with special reference to Bradford. [21551]
§ Mr. CurrySupport for local authorities' revenue expenditure, provided through revenue support grant, is made in respect of all local authority powers and duties. Individual authorities make expenditure decisions on the basis of local needs and priorities. We have received no representations about problems with pigeons.
§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to take to control the pigeon population. [21554]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordUnder the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food issue annual general licences permitting authorised persons to kill or take 13 species of pest bird, including feral pigeons for specified reasons. Under part VI of the Public Health Act 1961, local authorities have a specific power to abate or mitigate any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation of pigeons in any built-up area.
§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents due to pigeon droppings were reported in(a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire in the last year for which information is available. [21556]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy Department does not collect this information.