House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Feb 1992

Mr. Rupert Allason (Torbay) : Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Mr. McAllion : No. There is not enough time to give way. We heard the quite extraordinary case of Mr. Harry Roberts, a huntsman who in 1941 was called up to join the Army. As soon as he was called up, the foxes went wild and the number of lambs being killed by foxes shot up. It was said that that was proof positive that fox hunting was necessary to protect hill farming. Of course there are other interpretations, such as that that must have been the first case of draft dodging. If Dan Quayle had thought of such an ingenious device, I am sure that he would have used it in connection with Vietnam. The story proves nothing because there is no proof that fox hunting is necessary to keep pests under control.

I should like to refer to a group called Animal Concern, which describes itself as a select committee of members

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representing countryside and conservation organisations. I received a letter from the organisation, as I am sure have other hon. Members. That letter does not name the countryside and conservation organisations. For all we know, it may be the Quorn hunt. How can we take seriously the representations of Animal Concern? It says that the real issue at stake in the Bill--

Mr. Moate : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will know that some hon. Members have been here throughout the debate and have not had an opportunity to speak. You will also note that two Opposition Front- Bench spokesmen have taken up an inordinate amount of time by using the subterfuge of speaking from the Back Benches. Will you inquire into that to see whether it is proper for Front-Bench spokesmen to move to the Back Benches and take up the time of the House? If the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) continues to take up so much time, do we assume that he is trying to talk out the Bill?

Mr. Deputy Speaker : Nothing out of order has occurred so far. Mr. McNamara rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.

Question put, That the Question be now put :--

The House divided : Ayes 175, Noes 3.

Division No. 82] [2.25 pm

AYES

Abbott, Ms Diane

Adams, Mrs Irene (Paisley, N.)

Allen, Graham

Amess, David

Anderson, Donald

Ashley, Rt Hon Jack

Ashton, Joe

Atkinson, David

Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE)

Barnes, Mrs Rosie (Greenwich)

Barron, Kevin

Battle, John

Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

Bell, Stuart

Benn, Rt Hon Tony

Bennett, A. F. (D'nt'n & R'dish)

Benton, Joseph

Bermingham, Gerald

Bevan, David Gilroy

Bidwell, Sydney

Blair, Tony

Boateng, Paul

Bottomley, Peter

Bowden, A. (Brighton K'pto'n)

Boyes, Roland

Bradley, Keith

Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard

Bray, Dr Jeremy

Bright, Graham

Brown, Ron (Edinburgh Leith)

Campbell, Ron (Blyth Valley)

Canavan, Dennis

Cartwright, John

Clark, Dr David (S Shields)

Clarke, Tom (Monklands W)

Clay, Bob

Cohen, Harry

Corbett, Robin

Corbyn, Jeremy

Cousins, Jim

Cox, Tom

Crowther, Stan

Cryer, Bob

Cummings, John

Cunliffe, Lawrence

Darling, Alistair

Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

Davies, Ron (Caerphilly)

Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'l)

Dicks, Terry

Dixon, Don

Dobson, Frank

Doran, Frank

Duffy, Sir A. E. P.

Dunnachie, Jimmy

Edwards, Huw

Fatchett, Derek

Faulds, Andrew

Flannery, Martin

Flynn, Paul

Fookes, Dame Janet

Foot, Rt Hon Michael

Foster, Derek

Fraser, John

Gale, Roger

Galloway, George

Garrett, John (Norwich South)

Garrett, Ted (Wallsend)

Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John

Godman, Dr Norman A.

Gordon, Mildred

Gould, Bryan

Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Grist, Ian

Grocott, Bruce

Hain, Peter

Hardy, Peter

Harman, Ms Harriet

Haynes, Frank

Hayward, Robert

Hill, James

Hinchliffe, David

Hoey, Kate (Vauxhall)

Home Robertson, John

Howarth, George (Knowsley N)

Howell, Rt Hon D. (S'heath)

Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd)

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Hoyle, Doug

Hughes, John (Coventry NE)

Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N)

Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W)

Hughes, Roy (Newport E)

Hughes, Simon (Southwark)

Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne)

Illsley, Eric

Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N)

Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

Kilfedder, James

King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield)

Leadbitter, Ted

Leighton, Ron

Lestor, Joan (Eccles)

Lewis, Terry

Litherland, Robert

Livingstone, Ken

Lloyd, Tony (Stretford)

Loyden, Eddie

McAllion, John

McCartney, Ian

McKelvey, William

McNamara, Kevin

Madden, Max

Mahon, Mrs Alice

Marek, Dr John

Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)

Martlew, Eric

Meale, Alan

Michael, Alun

Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley)

Mitchell, Austin (G't Grimsby)

Moonie, Dr Lewis

Morley, Elliot

Mowlam, Marjorie

Mudd, David

Mullin, Chris

Nellist, Dave

Norris, Steve

Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

O'Hara, Edward

Owen, Rt Hon Dr David

Patchett, Terry

Pendry, Tom

Powell, Ray (Ogmore)

Prescott, John

Primarolo, Dawn

Quin, Ms Joyce

Redmond, Martin

Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn

Reid, Dr John

Richardson, Jo

Robinson, Geoffrey

Rogers, Allan

Rooker, Jeff

Rossi, Sir Hugh

Ruddock, Joan

Sedgemore, Brian

Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert

Shore, Rt Hon Peter

Short, Clare

Sillars, Jim

Skinner, Dennis

Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)

Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury)

Smith, Rt Hon J. (Monk'ds E)

Snape, Peter

Spearing, Nigel

Steinberg, Gerry

Stott, Roger

Strang, Gavin

Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Taylor, Sir Teddy

Thompson, Jack (Wansbeck)

Thorne, Neil

Turner, Dennis

Vaz, Keith

Walley, Joan

Ward, John

Wardell, Gareth (Gower)

Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N)

Wheeler, Sir John

Williams, Rt Hon Alan

Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then)

Wilson, Brian

Wise, Mrs Audrey

Tellers for the Ayes :

Mr. Jerry Hayes and

Mr. Tony Banks.

NOES

Bruce, Ian (Dorset South)

Budgen, Nicholas

Conway, Derek

Tellers for the Noes :

Mr. Paul Marland and

Mr. Nicholas Soames.

Question accordingly agreed to.

Question put accordingly, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The House divided : Ayes 175, Noes 187.

Division No. 83] [2.35 pm