Clause 8
Hunting Bill
8:55 am
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire, Conservative)
I have indeed noted the point and if the hon. Gentleman checks Hansard he will find that throughout our discussion about his sedentary comments a moment ago, I used the third person and spoke through you, Mrs. Roe. I am not aware of making a slip in protocol, but if he can prove me wrong I shall be happy to apologise to him.
The hon. Gentleman said that it was important that I addressed the amendment. If he sits quietly and listens carefully, he will find that what his hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Salter) said in The Daily Telegraph on 27 December has a direct and important application to amendment No. 101. I hope that when our sitting has finished he will let me know that he agrees with that view.
In that article, the hon. Member for Reading West made it clear that in his view the cruelty and utility tests in the Bill would have an unfortunate effect on a variety of other activities. As we understand it, he speaks for the Labour party on shooting and fishing. He is a well-known coarse fisherman and fishes in my constituency with the Malmesbury fishing association.