§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to allow the grazing of horses in fields without the planning permission now demanded by some local authorities.
§ Mr. FoxThe grazing of horses in fields does not necessarily require planning permission. It depends on the circumstances. My right hon. Friend does not propose to amend the legislation, which can sometimes be useful to prevent the loss of productive agricultural land or the unsympathetic development of rural areas. He is not, and nor am I, in any way biased against the keeping of horses.