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Hunting

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas designated as sites of special scientific interest where his Department has issued a licence to hunt; and if he will make a statement. [14443]

Mr. Spellar: Those areas designated as sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) where a licence to hunt has been issued are as follows:

Name of HuntName of SSSI
Surrey UnionThursley and Hankley Commons
Woolmer Forest, Bordon
Ash to Brookwood Heaths
Avon Vale HuntSalisbury Plain
Royal Artillery HuntSalisbury Plain
South and West Wiltshire HuntSalisbury Plain
East Kent HuntFolkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment
Great Shuttlesfield Down
Alkham, Lydden and Swingfield Woods
Essex and Suffolk HuntRoman River
Border HuntRamsay's Burn Wood
Grasslees Wood
Durtrees Burn
Harbottle Moors
Barrow Meadow
Linbriggs
Barrowburn Meadows
Cottonshopehead Quarry
River Coquet
Simonside Hills
West Percy HuntBarrowburn Meadows
Linbriggs
Harbottle Moors
Barrow Meadows
River Coquet
Bewcastle HuntIrthing Gorge
Caudbeck Flow
Spadeadam Mires
River Eden
Bedale HuntLower Swaledale Woodland
West of Yore HuntStainton Moor
Wensleydale HuntBellerby Moor
Lunesdale HuntAppleby Fell
Ullswater HuntAppleby Fell
Brecon and Talybont HuntBlaencilieni
Irfon and Tywi HuntBlaencilieni
Glyn and Celyn HuntBlaencilieni
Sennybridge District HuntBlaencilieni

6 Nov 1997 : Column: 326

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which hunts currently have a licence to hunt on his Department's land; to which areas of land licences apply; and if he will make a statement. [14441]

Mr. Spellar: The Foxhunts which currently have a Licence to operate on Ministry of Defence land are set out below.

Area
Surrey Union HuntElstead and Hankley Training Areas
Avon Vale HuntSennybridge Training Area
Royal Artillery HuntSennybridge Training Area
South and West Wiltshire HuntSennybridge Training Area
East Kent HuntCinque Ports Training Area
Blankney HuntBeckingham Training Area
Zetland HuntFeldom Training Area
Bedale HuntDry Training Area, Catterick
West of Yore HuntDry Training Area, Catterick
Wensleydale HuntBellerby Ranges, Catterick
Lunesdale FoxhoundsWarcop Training Area
Ullswater FoxhoundsWarcop Training Area
Brecon and Talybont HuntSennybridge Training Area
Irfon and Tywi HuntSennybridge Training Area
Glyn and Celyn HuntSennybridge Training Area
Sennybridge District HuntSennybridge Training Area
South Pembrokeshire HuntTempleton Airfield
Tanatside HuntNesscliffe Training Area
North Shropshire HuntNesscliffe Training Area
West Percy HuntOtterburn Training Area
Border HuntOtterburn Training Area
Bewcastle HuntRAF Spadeadam
Tynedale HuntAlbermarle Barracks

6 Nov 1997 : Column: 327

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the licences granted to hunt on his Department's land in the hunting seasons (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97 broken down into local authority area; and if he will make a statement. [14445]

Mr. Spellar: Those Licences granted to hunts broken down by Local Authority Area for 1995-96 and 1996-97 are as follows:

a. 1995-96

Name of HuntLocal authority
Surrey UnionWaverley District
Guildford Borough
Surrey Heath
Taunton Vale FoxhoundsSouth Somerset District
Avon Vale HuntWest Wiltshire District
Royal Artillery HuntWest Wiltshire District
South and West Wiltshire HuntWest Wiltshire District
East Kent HuntShepway District Council
Dover District Council
Essex and Suffolk HuntColchester Borough Council
Zetland HuntRichmond District Council
Bedale HuntRichmond District Council
West of Yore HuntRichmond District Council
Wensleydale HuntRichmond District Council
Lunesdale HuntEden District Council
Ullswater HuntEden District Council
Brecon and Talybont HuntCarmarthen County Council
Powys County Council
Irfon and Tywi HuntCarmarthen County Council
Powys County Council
Glyn and Celyn HuntCarmarthen County Council
Powys County Council
Sennybridge District HuntCarmarthen County Council
Powys County Council
Tanatside HuntShrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
North Shropshire HuntShrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
West Percy HuntAlnwick District Council
Northumberland National Park
The Border HuntAlnwick District Council
Tynedale District Council
Northumberland National Park
Bewcastle HuntCity of Carlisle District Council
Tynedale HuntCastle Morpeth Borough Council

b. 1996-97

Name of HuntLocal authority
Surrey UnionWaverley District Guildford Borough Surrey Heath
Avon Vale HuntWest Wiltshire District
Royal Artillery HuntWest Wiltshire District
South and West Wiltshire HuntWest Wiltshire District
East Kent HuntShepway District Council Dover District Council
Blankney HuntNorth Kesteven District Council
Zetland HuntRichmond District Council
Bedale HuntRichmond District Council
West of Yore HuntRichmond District Council
Wensleydale HuntRichmond District Council
Lunesdale HuntEden District Council
Ullswater HuntEden District Council
Brecon and Talybont HuntCarmarthen County Council Powys County Council
Irfon and Tywi HuntCarmarthen County Council Powys County Council
Glyn and Celyn HuntCarmarthen County Council Powys County Council
Sennybridge District HuntCarmarthen County Council Powys County Council
South Pembrokeshire HuntPembroke County Council
Tanatside HuntShrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
North Shropshire HuntShrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
West Percy HuntAlnwick District Council Northumberland National Park
The Border HuntAlnwick District Council Tynedale District Council Northumberland National Park
Bewcastle HuntCity of Carlisle District Council
Tynedale HuntCastle Morpeth Borough Council

6 Nov 1997 : Column: 328

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the terms and conditions of hunt licences include a requirement that hunts follow the rules as set out by the Masters of Foxhounds Association; and if he will make a statement. [14447]

Mr. Spellar: Each Licence includes a Schedule of Hunting Rules for the hunt to abide by, one of which is that the "Masters of Foxhounds are to conduct their hunting in accordance with the Rules issued by the Masters of Foxhounds Association".

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many licences to hunt on his Department's land have been revoked in each of the last three years, indicating (a) the hunts involved and (b) the reasons for licence withdrawal; and if he will make a statement. [14439]

Mr. Spellar: No Licence for hunting over MOD land have been revoked in the last 3 years.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority licences are issued to hunt on his Department's land; how the terms and conditions are drawn up; and if he will make a statement. [14444]

Mr. Spellar: Licences are issued on the authority of the Secretary of State for Defence. The terms and conditions are agreed between the hunt and the local Defence Land Agent.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the terms and conditions of hunt licences permit hunts to (a) block up badger setts, (b) dig out and flush foxes and (c) construct or maintain artificial earths on his Department's land; and if he will make a statement. [14446]

Mr. Spellar: Hunting licences do not generally contain clauses prohibiting the stopping up of badger setts, although all contain clauses stating that hunts must not cause damage to land or the woods, banks, fences and crops thereon. It is my Department's policy not to allow the practices of digging out and flushing foxes on its estate. The construction or maintenance of artificial earths on the Defence Estate is not permitted.

6 Nov 1997 : Column: 329

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which hunts were issued licences to hunt on his Department's land for the (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97 hunting seasons; and if he will make a statement. [14440]

Mr. Spellar: The licences granted to hunts were:

















































6 Nov 1997 : Column: 330


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