§ Valerie Davey (Bristol, West)I am pleased to present the petition of Bristol Anti-Blood Sports to the House. Signatures were collected in Bristol and neighbouring constituencies and totalled 28,475. I am sure that everyone who signed the petition will have been encouraged by the statement of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary today.
The petition states:
The Petition of Bristol Anti-Blood SportsDeclares its total opposition to all forms of hunting with hounds.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Home Office to take urgent action to bring about the end of this so-called sport, and this unnecessary slaughter of animals.And the Petitioners remain, etc.To lie upon the Table.
§ Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire)I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of some 420,000 decent, law-abiding, mainly country people, many of whom live in my constituency. They call on the Government to recognise the importance of tolerance in a modern society by rejecting legislation to criminalise hunting or other country activities. Such legislation would infringe the liberties of many people throughout the United Kingdom, destroy rural jobs, reduce people's income, seriously harm 765 the United Kingdom rural landscape, diminish rural community life and divert valuable parliamentary time from much needed Government measures to address the increasing problems that face the poor and the excluded in rural and urban constituencies.
The petition states:
The Petition of Citizens of the United KingdomDeclares that in a modern, tolerant democracy, legislation to ban fox hunting is inappropriate.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for the Home Office not to introduce such legislation.And the Petitioners remain, etc.To lie upon the Table.