§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and men of the Household Cavalry and of what rank and trade were involved in the transportation of horses to the(a) Quorn hunt, (b) Belvoir hunt and (c) Cottesmore hunt in January, February and March.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA lance-corporal, who is a trained horse box driver, and a trooper, who accompanies the horses to ensure their welfare and safety, were involved in transporting horses to the three hunts during the periods mentioned.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many duty hours members of the Household Cavalry were involved in foxhunting, including transportation to and from fox hunts, in October 1990, November 1990, December 1990, January 1991, February 1991 and March 1991.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe information is not available in the form requested and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence horses have been injured while hunting in the last five years; and if he will provide details of the regiments, the hunt and the injury.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMinor injuries to horses are not uncommon in any form of arduous training, including hunting, but are not separately recorded. There is no record of serious injury to Ministry of Defence horses attributable to hunting.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the costs incurred by the Household Cavalry in hunting with the(a) Quorn, (b) Belvoir and (c) Cottesmore hunts in 1990 and 1991; and how many riders and horses were involved.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo additional costs to public funds were incurred as a result of members of the Household Cavalry taking part in these hunts. Forty-three riders and 25 horses were involved during the season.
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§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Ministry of Defence equipment armed forces personnel are permitted to use in off-duty hours to participate in hunting; and if he will provide details of the hire charges.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonPersonnel from non-mounted units using Army horses off-duty are required to pay £10 per hour for the hire of the horse. They would normally provide their own equipment.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for veterinary fees following an injury to a Ministry of Defence horse used for hunting by armed forces personnel in off-duty hours.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonPersonnel from non-mounted regiments riding Army horses off-duty are required to pay a full cost hire charge and to take out comprehensive insurance to cover the cost of damages to the unit, the horse and any third parties. The hire charge covers the costs of veterinary services.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which mounted regiments of the armed forces are permitted to take part in(a) fox hunting, (b) deer hunting and (c) hare hunting in duty hours;
(2) whether any military personnel have any involvement in deer hunting during duty hours;
(3) if he has any plans to restrict armed forces personnel's participation in hunting in duty hours.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonHunting in duty hours is permitted in mounted regiments only at the Commanding Officer's discretion, when it is not to the detriment of any military task. Personnel in non-mounted regiments are not normally permitted to hunt in duty hours. No further restrictions are planned.
Army horses and personnel do not participate in deer hunting in duty hours.