§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the agreement was signed between him and the Masters of Foxhounds Association establishing the terms and conditions whereby the Association and recognised hunts may have access to his Department's land for the purpose of fox hunting; [41886]
(2) if under his proposals to harmonise the issuing of all hunting licences across his Department's estate, his policy on hunting practices and conditions laid down in previous licences will be changed; [42150]
(3) if licence applications to hunt with hounds on his Department's land in the 1998–99 season will be determined before the beginning of August. [42151]
§ Mr. SpellarThe new standardised licence is currently being drawn up by my officials in the Defence Estate Organisation. The Master of the Foxhounds Association will be consulted as part of the finalisation process which is planned to be complete by the beginning of August 1998. The licence will contain amended terms and conditions and will reflect those changes in hunting practices which were introduced on the Defence Estate during the last season.