Ministerial Statement by Alun Michael, Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality - 'Government "goes extra mile" to ease transition to hunting ban' - Thursday 18 November 2004
The Government today won the majority of MPs' support to press the House of Lords to accept a delay in implementing a ban on hunting until July 2006. The Government offered MPs the option of proposing to the House of Lords a further delay until July 2007 but this was rejected.
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said:
"I am pleased that most MPs backed our initiative to press the Lords both to accept the will of the elected House for a ban on hunting and to delay the start of this ban to give good time for hunters to adjust to the change in law.
"We were prepared to give even more time by extending the delay until summer 2007 but MPs felt that 20 months is more than enough. I am surprised that hunt supporters failed to back this initiative.
"Last week Peers voted down an attempt at compromise in favour of a limp system of registration that never had any chance of winning support in the house of Commons.
"The House of Commons has sought agreement with the House of Lords all the way through this process but the unelected House has continued to thwart the will of the democratically elected House at every stage.
"It would be perverse of them not to accept a delay in implementing the ban until summer 2006. Last night they provoked the use of the Parliament Act to implement the ban. If they reject this common-sense proposal to delay it the ban will come into effect in February 2005 instead of summer 2006. That would be like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.
"It was quite clear there wasn't going to be a change to the bill itself but the Government has shown that it is willing to go the extra mile to delay implementing a hunting ban.
"However, it has to be said that the hunting community has known for many years that it would have to prepare for change.
"This extra time will allow employees of hunts to seek alternative employment and to retrain if necessary. It will also allow time for hunters to develop alternatives like drag hunting and equestrian activities or to re-home hounds. Therefore, there can be no excuse now for animals having to be put down or for people to say that they have not had time to adjust.
"The hunting community say that they are law abiding people so we expect those involved in hunting to cease their activity when they are required by law to do so."
Page last modified:
19 November 2004
Page published: 18 November 2004