§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what(a) advice and (b) instructions, Ministers gave to the Forestry Commission before it reached a decision to suspend the licence of the New Forest Hounds. [78475]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 24 March 1999]: Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister nor I gave the Forestry Commission any advice or instructions before it decided to suspend the New Forest Foxhounds' licence last week. Action was taken under the terms of their licence following a previous written warning. The suspension was carried out after listening to all representations and is a matter for the Forestry Commission to decide. I have already made it clear that the Commission has my full support in the operation of the conditions of licence to hunt. This applies to all Forestry Commission land.