HC Deb 20 December 1985 vol 89 cc379-80W
Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what duties soldiers from the Guards Division would be employed on if they were not acting as grooms for fox hunting at RAVC Melton Mowbray;

  1. (2) what is his policy towards soldiers at RAVC Melton Mowbray concealing their fox hunting activities there from other Army visitors to the centre;
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  2. (3) what proportion of Army horses spend their winter at RAVC Melton Mowbray; what exercise and training the remaining horses receive and where; and why they do not participate in hunting there;
  3. (4) who owns the vehicles used to transport horses to hunt meetings; and who is responsible for the fuel and other running costs;
  4. (5) what is the current usage of Land Rover registration number 64 HG 93 and Rice trailer 43 FL 94; and if he will make a statement on their use in connection with attendance at hunts in each of the last two seasons;
  5. (6) if he will make it his policy to prohibit the use of regimental funds in connection with the use of departmental property, such as horses, to participate in fox hunting;
  6. (7) whether any insurance costs arise to public funds in respect of the participation of Army (a) horses and (b) personnel in hunting activities;
  7. (8) how regiments organise payments for block bookings taken out with hunts each winter; and what costs arise to public funds in this respect;
  8. (9) what is the current annual cost of keeping a cavalry, Guards or King's Troop horse; and if this is fully met from public funds;
  9. (10) what costs arise to public funds in respect of the participation of Army staff and horses in fox hunting; and if he will give the figures for the last two seasons broken down by character of cost;
  10. (11) when, pursuant to the answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 782, Army horses were first permitted to ride in hunts;
  11. (12) on how many days in the 1984–85 season the 19 Army officers referred to in the answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 782, hunted;
  12. (13) on how many days in the 1984–85 season any of the 25 soldiers referred to in the answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 782, actually rode to hounds.
  13. (14) what were the duties of the 25 soldiers referred to in the answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 782, in the 1984–85 season whilst at RAVC Melton Mowbray;
  14. (15) how many horses from each of the Household Cavalry, Kings' Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Guards Division were injured whilst hunting; and how many died whilst hunting or from causes directly related to hunting, in each of the last two seasons;
  15. (16) how the horses are selected to participate in hunting activities; how are the (a) officers and (b) men selected from amongst the volunteers; and how many horses have been selected in total in each of the last five years, broken down by the number of times they have been so selected.

Mr. Lee

I will answer shortly.