§ Lord Donoughueasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 19 June (WA 88), whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals if it has the resources to find homes for up to 16,000 hounds, should hunting with hounds be banned. [HL4905]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)No. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) has written to interested organisations, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, inviting them to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. If the society wishes to offer advice on the issue of hunting hounds my right honourable friend will take any views into account.