§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state what steps are taken by the Forestry Commission to check on the activities of the New Forest Buckhounds, how many observers they have present during a hunt and whether such observers are on horseback.
§ Lord BelsteadThe activities of the New Forest Buckhounds are observed and monitored by the Forestry Commission's deputy surveyor and his staff to ensure that hunting is conducted in accordance with the terms of the commission's licence. Two of the commission's New Forest keepers attend each hunt and are mounted on horseback when the deputy surveyor considers this to be necessary.