HC Deb 10 March 1949 vol 462 cc1402-4
Mr. Fairhurst

May I ask the Lord President whether his attention has been drawn to a Motion on the Order Paper in the name of my hon. Friends the Members for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) and Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Anthony Greenwood) and supported also by 206 other hon. Members; and, if so, whether he will make a statement?

[That this House is of the opinion that the time has arrived for an examination of the law relating to cruelty to wild animals and calls upon the Government to set up an appropriate body to investigate this question and to make recommendations.]

Mr. Morrison

This is a notice of Motion asking that a committee of inquiry of some sort should be appointed to go into the matter of practices in relation to alleged cruelty to animals. We think that there is a case for an investigation by a suitable committee, which might be desired not only by my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Anthony Greenwood), but by others who take a very different view of the matter from that which he takes. Therefore, the Government accept the principle of a committee of inquiry—although we are not committing ourselves to the exact terms of reference at this stage—and steps will be taken accordingly in due course.

Mr. Fairhurst

In view of the reply of my right hon. Friend, which, I am sure, will give intense satisfaction to millions of people up and down the country—[Interruption.] If hon. Members had only seen the correspondence I have had on this matter they might think differently. In view of the satisfactory reply of the Lord President, it might be for the convenience of the House if I stated now—[HoN. MEMBERS: "No."] I do not wish to provide food for controversy, but it is my intention tomorrow to ask the permission of the House to withdraw, or not to take the Second Reading of, the Prohibition of Fox Hunting Bill.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

I think I should advise the hon. Member that he would be perfectly within his rights, if he so wished, to withdraw the Bill now. Different considerations might apply tomorrow.

Mr. Fairhurst

In view of what you have said, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I beg to ask permission from the House to withdraw the Prohibition of Fox Hunting Bill.

Earl Winterton

May I refer to the answer which was given by the Lord President? No doubt at some later stage he will explain more fully what the terms of reference of this committee will be, and whether they will inquire into the treatment of all wild animals, whether hunted or not. Is this so?

Mr. Morrison

I think that would be a very good question for the noble Lord to put when that occasion arises.

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

Order. The matter is not one for discussion now.

Mr. W. R. Williams

I should like to ask the Lord President, having regard to this withdrawal and to the great in- terest in another Bill—Licensing (Amendment) (Tied Houses) Bill—which is to come before the House on Friday, whether he is prepared to try to arrange for a reasonable and equitable division of time tomorrow in order to discuss this very important matter?

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

The division of time is not a matter for the right hon. Gentleman, but for the Chair.