HC Deb 11 January 1993 vol 216 c616W
Mr. Meale

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the terms and conditions of the permit issued to the Quantock staghounds to hunt on Forestry Commission land.

Mr. Curry

The terms and conditions set out in the permission given to the Quantock staghounds hunt by the Forestry Commission are as follows:

  1. 1. The permission is limited to scheduled hunting days only.
  2. 2. Vehicles may only be taken into the Great Wood on specified routes, and subject to a speed limit of 15 mph.
  3. 3. Priority of passage is given at all times to forestry and other traffic, and to pedestrians.
  4. 4. The Quantock staghounds hunt to indemnify the Forestry Commission in the sum of £500,000 in respect of claims for damage, loss, or injury to Forestry Commission employees and property, similarly third party claims arising from exercise of the permission.
  5. 5. The Forestry Commission cannot accept any responsibility for loss, damage or injury suffered by the hunt or their followers during their exercise of the permission—which is given on the basis that it is at the user's own risk.
  6. 6. The permission does not give or imply any exclusive or permanent user rights by the hunt and their followers.
  7. 7. Hunt followers to carry windscreen stickers or other means of identification.
  8. 8. Smoking to be prohibited.
  9. 9. No carcase to be gralloched within 30 ft of running water.
  10. 10. One landrover or similar vehicle will be allowed to travel on the general road network to collect carcasses as an exception to the general rule but for no other purpose.
  11. 11. The staghounds to be responsible for the observance of the commission's byelaws by members of the hunt and their followers.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vehicle permits have been issued to hunt followers in the Quantocks area to enable them to follow the hunt on Forestry Commission land.

Mr. Curry

Somerset county council, in liaison with the Forestry Commission, has issued 126 vehicle permits to hunt staff and followers for the 1992–93 season. No separate record is kept of permits issued to hunt followers.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions are made for the ownership of the carcase or for payment when a deer is killed by the Quantock staghounds on Forestry Commission land.

Mr. Curry

The ownership of the carcase passes to the Quantock staghounds hunt without any payment.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring arrangements and procedures are in place to ensure that the conditions of the permit held by the Quantock staghounds are adhered to.

Mr. Curry

Senior members of the Quantock staghounds hunt attend at least one formal meeting each year with Forestry Commission staff. Contacts are also maintained, as necessary, between the commission and the hunt's vehicle steward. In addition, Forestry Commission staff carry out random checks on hunt days to ensure that the conditions of the permit are being followed.

Forward to