§ Mr. Alan Meale (Mansfield)The petition, signed by J. Barrington, A. E. Smith, J. M. Bryant, S. E. Rocks, N. Couldry and P. A. Mingo concerns itself with petitioning against the facts that badger setts in the United Kingdom continue to be frequently attacked by persons using spades and terriers, and that the Badgers Act 1973 does not 279 include provisions for the confiscation of dogs or for disqualification from keeping dogs as penalties for convicted badger baiters.
The petition contains more than 100,000 signatures collected by the League Against Cruel Sports, plus another 400 in support provided by the borough of Cheltenham and its local paper the Gloucestershire Echo.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will take all such measures as lie within their power,To lie upon the Table.
- 1. to protect badger setts from unlicensed damage or destruction.
- 2. to provide courts with the powers for the confiscation of dogs and disqualification from keeping dogs as penalties for those convicted of using dogs in offences against badgers. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ 12 midnight
§ Mr. Andrew Mitchell (Gedling)A petition from Mr. J. E. Hicks and 100,000 others:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of Citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sheweth:—
- 1. that badger setts continue to be frequently attacked by persons using spades and terriers.
- 2. that the Badgers Act 1973 does not include provisions for the confiscation of dogs or disqualification for keeping dogs as penalties for convicted badger baiters.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will take all such measures as lie within their power,And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
- 1. to protect badger setts from unlicensed damage or destruction.
- 2. to provide courts with the powers for the confiscation of dogs and disqualification from keeping dogs as penalties for those convicted of using dogs in offences against badgers.
§ To lie upon the Table.