Government introduces new Hunting Bill

Thursday, 9 September 2004 12:00 AM

The Government will today introduce a new Hunting Bill to Parliament, on the understanding that it will be pushed through the House of Lords by means of the Parliament Act if peers resist a ban again.

However, the Bill is understood to include provisions for delaying the implementation of the ban on hunting with dogs for two years, in order to reduce Parliamentary resistance and to give hunts time to prepare.

In a Written Ministerial Statement, Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael explained that the delay "will also give hunters time to respect the will of parliament and threats of violence, illegal activity are not justified".

It is likely that the Bill will be hurried through the Commons in a single day, in order to get it to the House of Lords as quickly as possible.

The Bill will also ban hare coursing after a delay of three months.

" MPs have made the moral decision that hunting with dogs is unacceptable in a modern society, and this decision should come into effect as soon as possible", Mr Michael declared.

However, the Conservatives have already expressed their concerns about the procedures planned for the Bill.

Conservative environment spokesman Tim Yeo warned, "If Labour railroad through a bill to ban hunting using the Parliament Act, we will introduce a Government Bill to reverse Labour's ban.

"All Conservatives front and back bench will be allowed a free vote in both houses. The vast majority of Conservatives believe a ban is an infringement of civil liberties and damaging to the countryside."

Party leader Michael Howard has already pledged Parliamentary time to MPs wishing to repeal any ban if he were elected as Prime Minister.

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