§ Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions in the past 10 years hunters and their hounds have been known to have trespassed on motorways or railways; on how many of these occasions were the officials of the hunt prosecuted for trespass; and what action he proposes to take to minimise the danger to human life which such incursions involve.
Mr. Bob BrownIt is an offence against the Motorway Regulations to allow animals to go on to a motorway. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is aware of seven instances of hounds having done so in the last 10 years, but not of any accidents having been caused nor of any prosecutions having been brought. However, this kind of occurrence is far from desirable in modern traffic conditions and if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I will look into it.
The Railways Board does not keep separate records of this specific form of trespass, but it cannot recollect instituting proceedings in recent years.