§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which members of the inquiry team chaired by Lord Burns investigating hunting have been members of a pro-field sports organisation; [106954]
(2) which of the members of the inquiry team into hunting, chaired by Lord Burns, have made a (a) financial and (b) in kind contribution to a pro-field sports organisation (i) event and (ii) hunt; [106955]
505W(3) which members of the inquiry team chaired by Lord Burns benefited (a) from hospitality given by a pro-field sports organisation, (b) from income from a pro-field sports organisations either as (i) an employee consultant and (ii) a paid advocate and (c) from other financial benefits from such organisations before they were appointed to the inquiry; [106958]
(4) which members of the inquiry team chaired by Lord Burns into hunting have (a) presided over, (b) been commissioned by and (c) worked for an organisation with affiliation to a (i) pro-field sports organisation and (ii) hunt; [106956]
(5) which of the members of the inquiry team chaired by Lord Burns into hunting have (a) taken part in and (b) attended a hunt as a subscribing member, supporter or follower; and when and where they did so. [106957]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 25 January 2000]: Inquiries with the Secretariat of the inquiry informs me that none of the members of the inquiry team has made a financial or in-kind contribution to a pro-field sports organisation, event or hunt. Nor have any of the inquiry team been members of a pro-field sports organisation.
With one exception, none of the members of the inquiry team has attended a hunt in any capacity. As part of research into hunting Professor Winter was present to observe a hunt on two occasions in 1991–92. The published research, "Economic and Social Aspects of Deer Hunting on Exmoor and the Quantocks", was funded by the National Trust. As a child, Professor Winter was taken to hunts on about half a dozen occasions.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) of 9 December 1999, Official Report, column 617W, announcing the membership of the inquiry, gave details of Dr. Edwards' and Professor Michael Winter's association with the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Professor Marsh is a Governor of the College. None of them has had any connection with the beagle pack, which is owned and managed by a Trust (separate from the College) and available to students through a College Student Union Club.
In 1993, the Royal Agricultural College received a small grant from the Standing Conference on Countryside Sports to carry out research into the implications of pheasant shooting.
506W
Local Authority Number of wards Application to pilot Amber Valley BC Whole authority 1. Electronic voting Whole authority 2. Extend entitlement to postal voting Birmingham MBC Whole authority Early voting Blackburn with Darwen BC Whole authority Early voting Blackpool BC Whole authority Early voting Bolton MBC 3 wards 1. All postal voting 2. Weekend voting Broxbourne BC 12 wards Electronic counting Bury MBC 1 ward 1. Electronic voting Whole authority 2. Early voting Chester CC Whole authority Early voting Coventry CC Whole authority Early voting Doncaster MBC 1 ward All postal voting Professor Sir John Marsh was Director of the Centre for Agricultural Strategy, which, like the Royal Agricultural College, attended meetings of the Standing Conference on Countryside Sports.
Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior was commissioned by the British Field Sports Society to carry out an evaluation of the report on deer hunting, "The Behavioural and Physiological Effects of Culling Red Deer", by Professor Patrick Bateson, together with other evidence. Lord Soulsby received expenses, but no payment, for this work.
The Secretariat informs me that Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, Professor Sir John Marsh and Professor Winter received refreshments when attending meetings organised by the Countryside Alliance and, in Professor Marsh's and Professor Winter's case, by the Standing Conference on Countryside Sports. We are informed that neither they nor the other members of the Inquiry team have received any income or other financial benefits from any pro-hunt organisation.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is satisfied that the Committee of Inquiry will provide an objective view on the issues before the Committee.