§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to ban fox-hunting in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government have no plans for legislation in this area. Over the years, there have been a number of private Members' Bills whose purpose has been to ban or to regulate various forms of hunting, including fox-hunting, but to date none of these Bills has commanded sufficient support in Parliament to become law. The Government have consistently adopted a position of neutrality towards such legislation and regard this issue as very much a matter for individual conscience and decision.