42.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the decrease in the number of green plover, he will introduce a Measure to protect these birds in the United Kingdom until they have had a chance of increasing.
No, Sir, but as I have indicated to the hon. Member previously, I would consider sympathetically applications for an Order giving all-the-year protection to this bird from the councils of the limited number of counties and county boroughs where it is not already so protected.
Is the Home Secretary aware that if these birds are protected in one area but not in an adjoining area, they will find their way into the market?
Yes, Sir. As a result of representations which have been made to me by the hon. Member, I am sending a circular to all counties and county boroughs who do not protect these birds, asking them to consider submission of an amended form of bylaw extending protection to these birds.
Can the Home Secretary say in what districts this year these birds have not been and are not being protected?
No, Sir, not without notice. If my hon. Friend will put down a question for written answer, I will give him the information.
Will the circular be followed up by the right hon. Gentleman's Department? He must realise that so long as people in one county can shoot these birds and put them on the market, there is no point in extending protection to them in other counties, and the whole scheme will be vitiated.
I know how anxious the House is about this matter, and I will endeavour to bring those authorities which do not protect these birds into line with the more intelligent areas.