§ Lord Willoughby de Brokeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How (a) "upland" and (b) "lowland" areas are classified or defined; and [HL3620]
In the light of the evidence given to the Burns inquiry by the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which stated that 75,000 foxes per year are killed involving the use of dogs and that this system would need to be replaced if a ban was introduced, what plans, if any, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has considered as an alternative system of pest control. [HL3621]
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§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Baroness Goldingasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they suggest that (a) fox, (b) deer, (c) hare or (d) mink can be located; and [HL3622]
What method they suggest for tracking and destroying a shot and 'wounded deer; and [HL3623]
Whether there is an assumption within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that hunting is cruel; and, if so, what evidence of cruelty the Government have in addition to any material made available to the Burns inquiry. [HL3624]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will he given due consideration.
§ Lord Donoughueasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice can be offered to pest controllers as to how to identify a pregnant (a) fox, (b) hare, (c) deer or (d) mink at night when using a rifle. [HL3625]
What advice is given to pest controllers about the shooting of a pregnant (a) fox, (b) hare, (c) deer or (d) mink as far as its offspring is concerned. [HL3626]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Monsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is recommended for pest controllers to take with regard to a shot and wounded pest that seeks refuge underground; and [HL3627]
What advice can be given to pest controllers with regard to the flushing of foxes from thick cover or woodland; and [HL3628]
How, in the context of pest control of foxes, "cover" is defined. [HL3629]
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§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
What tests or research have been conducted into the viability of methods of pest control. [HL3630]
§ Lord WhittyWe have an ongoing process of research and development into the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of pest control methods.
§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will consult the police and Home Office with regard to enforceability of legislation that might ban or restrict hunting; and [HL3631]
What figures and research are available with regard to levels of suffering to animals (including rats and rabbits) caught in (a) snares, (b) cage traps, (c) killed by poison, (d) killed by dogs and (e) caught in leg hold traps. [HL3632]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all those organisations who submitted evidence to Lord Burns' inquiry in relation to cruelty and utility will be invited to contribute to the current consultation period; and whether they are willing to use the Burns report as a basis for legislation and consultation; and [HL3633]
Whether they intend to consult members of the Burns inquiry team during the consultation process, in particular Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior on veterinary matters and the issue of cruelty and Professor Michael Winter on utility. [HL3634]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Geddesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What shot size and shotgun type are recommended for the culling of (a) foxes, (b) hares, (c) deer and (d) mink; and [HL3641]
72WAWhether they have given consideration to the difference between "cruelty" and "suffering" in relation to animals; and [HL3642]
Whether they consider cruelty to be a subjective or scientific matter; and [HL3643]
Whether they will consult the veterinary group Vets for Hunting during the consultation period on hunting. [HL3646]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Geddesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the findings of a poll carried out in 2001 that showed that 79 per cent of rural veterinary surgeons believe fox control is necessary in their areas; and [HL3644]
Whether they accept the findings of a poll carried out by NOP that shows that 63 per cent of rural veterinary surgeons oppose a hunting ban on welfare grounds. [HL3645]
§ Lord WhittyThe Government do not comment on individual opinion polls.
§ Baroness Wilcoxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consult the Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds regarding the suitability of drag hunting as an alternative to live quarry hunting. [HL3647]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
The Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds is one of those organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.
§ Lord Northbrookasked Her Majesty's Government:
What alternative methods of fallen stock collection have been planned should hunts close; and [HL3648]
Who will finance any alternative methods of fallen stock collection introduced in the event of a hunting ban. [HL3649]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and 73WA utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities.
§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
What their policy is on compensation for those affected in the event of a ban on hunting, especially in the light of the forthcoming European Court of Human Rights challenge in Scotland. [HL3651]
§ Lord WhittySuch issues would be considered during the drafting of any Bill.
§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their recommended method of fox control: and [HL3635]
(a) what is included in the expression "hunting with dogs" and (b) how many people they consider that this might involve; and [HL3678]
What proportion of people hunt (a) on foot, (b) on horses, (c) with packs of dogs, (d) with single dogs, (e) with dogs, and guns, (f) in urban areas (that is fox control in buildings), (g) in upland areas and (h) in lowland areas; and [HL3679]
What estimate has been made of the contribution hunting makes to the rural economy in terms of (a) direct expenditure, (b) indirect expenditure, (c) direct jobs, (d) indirect jobs and (e) value of fallen stock collection service; and [HL3680]
What figures are available for the number of people who benefit from the social functions run by hunts. [HL3681]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
What figures they have on predation on birds and mammals by domestic cats. [HL3639]
§ Lord WhittyThe Government do not collate these figures. However, the Mammal Society conducted a five-month survey during the spring/summer of 1997. The survey established that the 986 cats in the sample killed over 14,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians during this period. The current cat population in GB is estimated to be over 9 million animals.
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§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
How fox predation levels are (a) monitored and (b) classified. [HL3640]
§ Lord WhittyWe have monitored fox predation levels through published scientific literature, research information, reports in the press and information from members of the public. Damage and losses due to foxes can be broadly categorised as being of conservation or agricultural/domestic concern.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consult organisations such as the National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses regarding the welfare implications of a hunting ban on the animals used as part of hunting. [HL3650]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
The National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses are organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.
§ Lord Kimballasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they intend to do if hunts can no longer destroy injured animals; and who is going to incinerate them. [HL3880]
§ Lord WhittyMy right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities.