HL Deb 29 January 1985 vol 459 cc639-40WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action is taken by the Forestry Commission to ensure that the terms of the Buckhunt licence, issued to the joint masters of the New Forest Buckhounds, are communicated to hunt servants, mounted followers and car followers, and whether the joint masters are held responsible by the Forestry Commission for any breach of the licence.

Lord Belstead

The joint masters are responsible, under the terms of the licence, for providing each hunt officer and servant with a copy of the licence and for ensuring that they observe its conditions. Any breach of the conditions by officers and servants may lead to the withdrawal of the licence by the Forestry Commission.

There is no requirement to provide mounted followers and car followers with copies of the licence, but one of the joint masters always acts as hunt master, in which capacity he is in charge of the mounted followers and is in a position to ensure that they do not contravene the licence conditions. The joint masters are permitted, under the agreed arrangements, to specify the number of persons who may follow the hunt by car, and are required to provide at least two marshals to control the conduct of the car followers and to ensure that only those with permission take part.

Forestry Commission keepers also attend the meets with the primary duty of ensuring that the terms of the licence are complied with.