Schedule 1 - Exempt Hunting
Hunting (Re-committed) Bill
4:00 pm
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
Although I believe that amendment No. 69 does not go far enough, I should like to help the Minister. First, the hon. Member for West Ham said that the type of people who follow codes of conduct are all right anyway. Actually, those who do not follow them will be breaking the law and can be dealt with by the majesty of the law, so that is not an issue. Those in the countryside who want to control foxes properly will respect the code of conduct and the rest will be taken to court for their misdemeanours.
More importantly, is it not the case that gamekeepers cannot use terriers to deal with foxes, but must use other methods of control? Whether shooting is worse for animal welfare than terriers—we think it is—is a controversial issue in the Committee, as is the use of snares. However, I hope that all Committee members think that snares are less desirable than the relatively rapid method of using terriers. If the hon. Gentleman can bring himself to compromise his principles just a little, he may advance animal welfare overall.