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SCHEDULE 2
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HUNTING WITH DOGS: REGULATION |
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PART I |
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THE HUNTING AUTHORITY |
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The Authority |
| | 1. There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Hunting Authority.
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Membership |
| | 2. - (1) The Authority shall consist of not less than seven and not more than eleven members appointed by the Secretary of State.
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(2) The Secretary of State shall appoint one member as chairman.
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| | 3. The validity of proceedings of the Authority shall not be affected by-
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(a) a vacancy among the members, |
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(b) a vacancy in the office of chairman, |
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(c) a defect in the appointment of a member, or |
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(d) a defect in the appointment of the chairman. |
| | 4. In Part II of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (bodies) the following shall be inserted at the appropriate place-
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"The Hunting Authority." |
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Special interests |
| | 5. - (1) The Secretary of State shall ensure that at any time the Authority includes-
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(a) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to represent the interests of animal welfare, and |
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(b) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to represent the interests of hunters, and |
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(c) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to represent the interests of farmers, and |
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(d) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to represent the interests of land-owners, and |
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(e) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to represent the interests of conservation, and |
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(f) one member who in the Secretary of State's opinion is able and willing to advise on veterinary matters. |
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(2) The Secretary of State shall ensure that at any time at least half of the members are persons who in the Secretary of State's opinion do not-
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(a) engage or participate in hunting, |
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(b) provide support for hunting, |
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(c) belong to an organisation which has a principal objective of improving or protecting animals' welfare and which disapproves of hunting, |
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(d) participate in activities designed to protest against or interfere with hunting, or |
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(e) provide support for an organisation of the kind mentioned in paragraph (c) or for activities of the kind mentioned in paragraph (d). |
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(3) The Secretary of State shall ensure that the chairman is among the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).
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(4) A reference in this paragraph to hunting includes-
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(a) a reference to any particular kind of hunting, and |
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(b) a reference to hare coursing. |
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Tenure |
| | 6. Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a member of the Authority shall hold office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
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| | 7. A member shall not be appointed for more than five years at a time.
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| | 8. A member may resign by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.
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| | 9. The Secretary of State may dismiss a member if (and only if) the Secretary of State thinks that the member-
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(a) is unable, unfit or unwilling to discharge his functions, |
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(b) has ceased to satisfy any of paragraphs 5(1)(a) to (f), or |
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(c) has ceased to satisfy paragraph 5(2). |
| | 10. - (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the chairman shall continue in office until-
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(a) his term of appointment as a member expires (whether or not he is reappointed), or |
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(b) he resigns or is dismissed from membership of the Authority. |
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(2) The chairman may resign his office in writing to the Secretary of State.
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(3) The Secretary of State may dismiss the chairman from his office if (and only if) the Secretary of State thinks that the chairman-
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(a) is unable, unfit or unwilling to discharge his functions, or |
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(b) has ceased to satisfy paragraph 5(2). |
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Proceedings |
| | 11. The Authority shall regulate their own proceedings.
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Staff |
| | 12. - (1) The Authority-
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(a) shall appoint a chief executive, and |
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(b) may appoint other staff. |
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(2) The Authority may delegate functions to the chief executive or to other staff.
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(3) The Authority may, on such terms as they think appropriate, engage persons for the purpose of carrying out inspections under paragraph 36.
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Money |
| | 13. - (1) The Authority may pay to or in respect of members and staff-
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(d) sums by way of or in respect of pensions. |
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(2) Employment with the Authority shall be included among the kinds of employment to which a scheme under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 can apply.
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(3) The Authority shall pay to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as he may direct, such sums as he may determine in respect of the increase attributable to this paragraph in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under that Act.
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(4) The following shall be inserted at the appropriate place in the list of Other Bodies in Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (employment to which scheme may apply)-
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"Hunting Authority". |
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| | 14. The Authority shall exercise their powers under this Schedule to charge fees with a view to ensuring that, so far as possible-
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(a) the income of the Authority for a particular financial year matches their expenditure for that year, and |
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(b) the Authority have neither debts nor surplus funds. |
| | 15. - (1) The Authority shall keep proper accounts and accounting records.
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(2) The Authority shall-
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(a) prepare a statement of accounts for each financial year in such form and containing such information as the Treasury direct, and |
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(b) send the statement to the Comptroller and Auditor General within such period after the end of the financial year as the Treasury direct. |
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(3) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall-
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(a) examine, certify and report on any statement received under sub-paragraph (2), and |
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(b) lay a copy of each certified statement and report before Parliament. |
| | 16. - (1) A "financial year" of the Authority is a period of twelve months beginning with 1st April.
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(2) But the first financial year shall be the period-
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(a) beginning with the date on which the Authority is established, and |
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(b) ending with the second 31st March after that date. |
| | 17. The Secretary of State may make grants or loans to the Authority out of money provided by Parliament.
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Annual report |
| | 18. - (1) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year, the Authority shall send to the Secretary of State a report on the exercise of their functions in that year.
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(2) Where the Secretary of State receives a report under this paragraph he shall lay a copy before Parliament.
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Status |
| | 19. The Authority shall not be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown.
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| | 20. In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (bodies subject to investigation) the following shall be inserted at the appropriate place-
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"Hunting Authority." |
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