Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 November 1956.
Mr Anthony Hurd
, Newbury
12:00,
27 November 1956
asked the Minister of Works what action he is taking this winter to dislodge the starlings that roost round Trafalgar Square and foul the monuments and pavements.
Mr Patrick Buchan-Hepburn
, Beckenham
Experiments with a loudspeaker device are continuing. But even if these were successful, which I am bound to say is unlikely, the cost of a full installation would be very great. I am afraid I see no prospect at present of finding an effective method of dislodging the starlings which is both humane and economical.
Mr Anthony Hurd
, Newbury
If my right hon. Friend does not see much hope of effective help from the scientists, would he consider calling in aid the sparrowhawk or the owl?
Mr Patrick Buchan-Hepburn
, Beckenham
I do not think I could control the sparrowhawk or the owl, and if it were a stuffed one I think the starlings would get used to it quite soon.
Mr Marcus Lipton
, Lambeth Brixton
Could not the Government persuade these birds to spend the winter in Port Said or Jamaica?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
