§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by whom it was decided to widen the initial remit of his Department's inquiry into hunting with dogs; and what factors led to this decision; [122527]
(2) if he will list the persons involved (a) within and (b) outside his Department in drawing up the remit of the Burns inquiry; [122525]
(3) what was the role of Baroness Jay in determining the remit of his Department's inquiry into hunting with dogs; what role she has played in the inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [122526]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe terms of reference of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs were drawn up by Home Office Officials, in consultation with Lord Burns, and approved by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
Baroness Jay has had no role whatsoever either in drawing up the terms of reference or in the Inquiry itself.
The remit has always been about hunting with dogs—not shooting or retrieval of quarry with dogs. The question of "widening" the Terms of Reference is a misunderstanding.