asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new research is being promoted to contain damage to growing farm and horticultural produce by avian predators.

Research on bird pests is continuing on the broad lines described in the last Triennial Report of our Pest Infestation Control Laboratory. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

I thank my hon. Friend for his consideration. Will he call the attention of our right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the fact that the best method of controlling avian predators is with shotguns and, with that in mind, will he review some of the considerations in his Green Paper?

I am on record in this House as saying that I am very fond of birds. I certainly take note of what my hon. Friend said, but I never regard birds as avian predators.