§ 52. Mr. Leslieasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to a case of cruelty following a stag hunt recently at Carnforth; and whether, in order to put a stop to this practice whereby animals endure torture, he will take action under the Emergency Powers Defence Act to authorise persons to enter upon land and to take steps for the killing and removal of deer, hares and rabbits, thereby serving a useful purpose by adding to the food supply of the nation?
Mr. HudsonThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the 674 Question, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the provisions of the Deer Order, 1940, and the Rabbits Order, 1940, made under the Defence Regulations. These Orders confer powers on county war agricultural executive committees regarding the killing of deer and rabbits, including the power in certain circumstances to enter on land for that purpose. The Orders also provide that, in the exercise of that power, committees may give directions as to the disposal, of deer and rabbits killed.
§ Mr. LeslieIs not my right hon. Friend aware—because it has appeared in the Press—that this stag was entangled for three weeks in wire netting until police came up and put it out of its misery? Can nothing be done to stop this horrible practice of stag-hunting?