Peers vote to delay hunting ban

Friday, 12 November 2004 12:00 AM

The ban on hunting with dogs should be delayed until the end of 2007, peers in the House of Lords said on Thursday.

During the Hunting Bill's report stage, peers voted by 175 to 145 to allow unrestricted hunting to continue until the end of November 2007.

The Lords voted to delay further limits on hunting with dogs until the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons established whether restrictions caused more pain than other forms of pest control.

Using a utilitarian calculus, vets are considering "the relative pain, suffering or distress caused to wild mammals by hunting with dogs compared with other methods of controlling those with wild mammals".

Peers also rejected a compromise bid to ban stag hunting while embracing licensed fox hunting. The amendment was defeated 189 to 39, a majority of 150.

The Upper House has already moved to adopt a licensing scheme rather than the total ban preferred by MPs.

MPs have agreed to allow the ban to be delayed until July 2006 but the Commons is likely to overturn the compromise next week as MPs want a total ban.

The Hunting Bill is to receive its third reading in the Lords on Monday and returns to the Commons on Tuesday.

The Bill then goes back to the Lords on Wednesday for an amendment debate.

The Government has threatened to use the Parliament Act to override the protestations of peers and force the legislation onto statute books.

On Thursday pro-hunt supporters gathered in Whitehall to lobby Ministers as they arrived for a Cabinet meeting.

Some 1,500 campaigners joined the picket in Whitehall, according to the Countryside Alliance.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said he was "disappointed" by the Lords' latest obstruction.

"At every stage the government has sought to reduce confrontation on this long-running issue but we are running out of time," said Mr Michael.

"The House of Lords should take an active part in bridging the divide, instead of widening it."

Anti-hunt campaigners are confident the Bill will receive Royal Assent by the end of the Parliamentary session on November 18th.

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