§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of army personnel, both staff and civilian, involved in the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate. [28912]
§ Mr. SpellarI will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hounds are maintained at(a) the Salisbury Plain training area and (b) the Otterbum training area for the purpose of hunting foxes. [28913]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Royal Artillery Hunt keeps a pack of some 80 hounds on Salisbury Plain Training Area. The Hunt is, however, a private organisation and kennels in which the hounds are kept were built by and belong to the Hunt and not the Ministry of Defence.
No hounds are kept at Otterbum Training Area.
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§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the use of army vehicles and equipment in connection with the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate. [28918]
§ Mr. SpellarAs with Army horses, Army vehicles and equipment may be used in connection with fox hunting, when they are not required for Army duties. However, individuals using Army vehicles and equipment for this purpose pay to do so, so that no cost is incurred by the public purse.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the number of reported injuries to(a) army personnel and (b) horses involved in the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate in each of the last five years. [28915]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department does not hold records of the number of injuries sustained by Army personnel when hunting foxes with hounds on the Defence estate. No central records are held of injuries sustained by Army horses involved in fox hunting on the Defence estate, and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department holds no records of injuries sustained by privately owned horses involved in hunting on the defence estate.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by rank the number of army and civilian personnel who are involved(a) full-time and (b) part-time in maintaining stables of horses and kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate. [28916]
§ Mr. SpellarNo Army or MOD civilian personnel are employed to maintain stables of horses or kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the maintenance of(a) stables of horses and (b) kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate. [28919]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Ministry of Defence does not maintain stables of horses and kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting on the defence estate.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by name those army units which maintain horses and hounds for the purpose of fox hunting on the army estate. [28917]
§ Mr. SpellarNo Army units maintain horses and hounds for the purpose of fox hunting. Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery participate in various hunts throughout the country, and may use their Army horses to do so. However, as with other non-military equestrian activities, Army horses may be used for hunting only if it does not impede military or ceremonial duties, and any additional costs incurred are borne privately by the rider.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army personnel have(a) been hospitalised for more than 24 hours and (b) taken sick leave of more than three days following injuries sustained while involved in hunting with hounds on the defence estate in each of the last five years. [28914]
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§ Mr. SpellarThis information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.