§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Defence which Army horses have been used for foxhunting; if he will name the regiments, officers and hunts concerned; and if he will institute an inquiry.
§ Mr. LeeEach winter a number of Army horses from the Household Cavalry, Kings' Troop RHA and the782W Guards Division, all based in London, are sent to the RAVC training centre at Melton Mowbray for exercising and training. As part of this training, and also to improve equestrian standards, some horses are ridden in hunts. Last winter —1984–85 —42 horses, 19 officers and 25 soldiers participated in the hunting. The officers and soldiers are all volunteers. The hunts involved were the Belvoir, Quorn and Cottesmore. All payments to the hunts were from non-public funds.