§ Lord Joplingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider, at an early date, issuing licences to permit the training of puppies in the Lake District, bred and kept solely for the sport of hound trailing (which is not a blood sport), where the trail is no more than a mile in length and confined to only one agricultural holding, on no more than seven sites on a regional basis around that area of Cumbria where hound trailing is an historic activity. [HL1679]
§ Lord WhittyHound trailing comes within the definition of hunting in the Foot and Mouth Disease Order 1983 (as amended) and is currently prohibited throughout England and Wales by virtue of that order and the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Declaratory (Controlled Area) (England and Wales) (No. 3) Order 2001. The activities associated with hound trailing create a similar risk of spreading foot and mouth disease to other forms of hunting and will he treated the same for that reason.
A veterinary risk assessment has been prepared on hunting with dogs, which has been published together with detailed proposals to ease the current restrictions on hunting. These documents have been placed in the Library of the House. From 17 December, hunting with dogs, including hound trailing, will be allowed 187WA under a temporary permit system in foot and mouth disease free counties, except onto premises subject to Form A or D restrictions or any like restrictions under Article 38 of the Foot and Mouth Disease Order. It is not proposed to permit the resumption of hound trailing or any other form of hunting with dogs in Cumbria until that county attains the status of a foot and mouth disease-free county.