§ (1) This section applies to an application for registration under section (Application by individual) or (Application on behalf of group).
§ (2) On receipt of an application the registrar shall—
- (a) invite the prescribed animal welfare bodies to make written representations about the application within a specified period, and
- (b) consider any written representations made by any of those bodies within that period.
§ (3) If the registrar is satisfied that the hunting proposed in an application would satisfy the tests specified in section (Tests for registration: utility and least suffering) he shall—
- (a) grant the application, or
- (b) refuse the application if he thinks that the applicant, or any of the applicants, is not a fit and proper person to be registered by reason of a matter specified in subsection (4).
§ (4) Those matters are—
- (a) conviction for an offence under this Act,
- (b) conviction for an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (c. 27),
- (c) conviction for an offence under the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 (c. 14),
- (d) conviction for an offence under section 2 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (c. 51),
- (e) conviction for an offence under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (c. 3),
- (f) conviction for an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 6),
- (g) matters relating to the cancellation of the registration of the applicant or any of the applicants or his or their removal from a group registration, and
- (h) matters relating to the cancellation of the registration of an individual who would be likely to hunt in reliance on the registration or his removal from a group registration.
§ (5) If the registrar is satisfied that the hunting proposed in an application would satisfy the tests specified in section (Tests for registration: utility and least suffering) if carried out in accordance with conditions other than those specified in the application, he may, with the consent of the applicant or applicants—
- (a) grant the application, and
- (b) add to or vary the conditions specified in the application.
§ (6) Where the registrar determines not to grant an application under subsection (3) or (5) he shall refuse it.
§ (7) In considering an application the registrar shall assume, unless he has reason not to, that the hunting proposed would be carried out in accordance with—
- (a) the conditions specified in section (Automatic conditions of individual registration) or (Automatic conditions of group registration), and
- (b) any condition specified in the application."
§ On Question, amendment agreed to.
§ Lord Mancroft moved Amendment No. 26:
§ After Clause 5, insert the following new clause—