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Baroness Wilcox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will consult the Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds regarding the suitability of drag hunting as an alternative to live quarry hunting.[HL3647]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
The Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds is one of those organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.
Lord Northbrook asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What alternative methods of fallen stock collection have been planned should hunts close; and [HL3648]
Who will finance any alternative methods of fallen stock collection introduced in the event of a hunting ban.[HL3649]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and
utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What their policy is on compensation for those affected in the event of a ban on hunting, especially in the light of the forthcoming European Court of Human Rights challenge in Scotland.[HL3651]
Lord Whitty: Such issues would be considered during the drafting of any Bill. Rebo
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their recommended method of fox control; and[HL3635]
(a) what is included in the expression "hunting with dogs" and (b) how many people they consider that this might involve; and[HL3678]
What proportion of people hunt (a) on foot, (b) on horses, (c) with packs of dogs, (d) with single dogs, (e) with dogs, and guns, (f) in urban areas (that is fox control in buildings), (g) in upland areas and (h) in lowland areas; and[HL3679]
What estimate has been made of the contribution hunting makes to the rural economy in terms of (a) direct expenditure, (b) indirect expenditure, (c) direct jobs, (d) indirect jobs and (e) value of fallen stock collection service; and [HL3680]
What figures are available for the number of people who benefit from the social functions run by hunts.[HL3681]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What figures they have on predation on birds and mammals by domestic cats.[HL3639]
Lord Whitty: The Government do not collate these figures. However, the Mammal Society conducted a five-month survey during the spring/summer of 1997. The survey established that the 986 cats in the sample killed over 14,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians during this period. The current cat population in GB is estimated to be over 9 million animals.
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How fox predation levels are (a) monitored and (b) classified. [HL3640]
Lord Whitty: We have monitored fox predation levels through published scientific literature, research information, reports in the press and information from members of the public. Damage and losses due to foxes can be broadly categorised as being of conservation or agricultural/domestic concern.
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will consult organisations such as the National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses regarding the welfare implications of a hunting ban on the animals used as part of hunting.[HL3650]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.
The National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses are organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.
Lord Kimball asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What they intend to do if hunts can no longer destroy injured animals; and who is going to incinerate them.[HL3880]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities. Rebo
Defra: Written Consultations
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether:
(a) they have decided to dispense with the standard minimum period of 12 weeks set out in the code of practice on written consultations;
(b) whether there are special reasons for ignoring the standard minimum period in the case of the Agricultural Scheme and the EC Environmental Liability Proposal;
(c) whether there are more consultations planned with less than the standard minimum period; and
(d) how many other consultations have been issued since 1 January with less than the minimum period.[HL3796]
Lord Whitty: (a) The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is not dispensing with the standard minimum period of 12 weeks set out in the Code of Practice on Written Consultations.
(b) There were timetabling difficulties associated with the consultations on the Agri-Environment Schemes Review and the EC Environmental Liability Proposals which resulted in consultation periods of less than 12 weeks. Criterion 5 of the code recognises the need for consultation periods to be shortened if the timetable is dictated by EU or other international processes, Budget or other financial cycles.
(c) There are no consultations planned with less than the standard minimum period unless the circumstances surrounding the consultation fall under one of the exemptions covered by the code.
(d) The department currently has issued eight consultation documents since 1 January with less than the standard minimum period of 12 weeks.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Given the volume of business of this House, the Government have no plans at present to have a debate.
We have made considerable progress in implementing the White Paper during the first year, despite the massive diversion of effort and resources required to deal with foot and mouth disease. We are continuing to work towards the achievement of all the White Paper's long-term goals.
England's rural future, published on 13 December 2001, which set out the Government's efforts to help rural recovery, and our response to the reports of the Rural Task Force and Lord Haskins included a progress report on implementing the Rural White Paper.
The Rural White Paper implementation plan, which is on the Defra website at http://defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/index.htm, shows how all the commitments made in the White Paper are being taken forward. An updated version will be available shortly.
Rebo
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: In its report of January 2002 the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming expressed a strong belief in the need for a much greater level of collaboration between farmers and in the potential of collaborative ventures for all farmers large and small. The Government support those sentiments. The commission did not advocate the placing of restrictions on the size of farmers co-operatives and the Government have no plans to do so. However, co-operatives are subject to the requirements of UK and EU competition law.
Whether they propose to table a Motion for debate in this House drawing attention to the findings of the Rural White Paper published in November 2000; and, if so, when.[HL3900]
Whether, in acknowledging the importance of farmers working together and forming co-operative groups as recommended in the Curry report on the future of farming and food, they will place restrictions on the size of such groups.[HL3903]
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