Clause 8 - Tests for registration:
Hunting Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
That was a fascinating contribution to the Committee's discussion. The hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) suggests that hunts are entirely virtuous in that they go out to seek old and vulnerable foxes. The issue is not the age of the fox but whether it is a pest. That is why clause 8 does not contain an element asking the hunt to check the age of a fox before they start chasing it. I am not sure whether it is appropriate to talk about the hon. Gentleman shooting himself in the foot in this Committee, but he seems to have done so.