Clause 8 - Tests for registration: utility and
Hunting Bill
8:55 am
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
Clearly, the relationship is intimate, whatever it is or was. His very helpful letter explains exactly what utility the Warwickshire hunt provides in the country over which it hunts:
''Lord Burns did not mention that the only activities that farmers never charge for are shooting rabbits and pigeons, hunting foxes and of course access for walking under the legislation. At least 90% of farmers give access for hunting foxes for utility, only 10% on average follow the sport.
The Warwickshire Hunt have access over 1,000 farms covering 70,000 hectares. Twelve farmers effectively ban the hounds (only four have over 100 acres) and sixteen farmers discourage or ban horses while accepting hounds for dispersal and culling foxes. Access given for hunting, free of charge, covers over 99% of the rural land area.
Between 15–20% of the 1,000 farmers cull foxes by shooting over and above the culling undertaken by the Hunt. In counties such as Hampshire or Norfolk where game birds are heavily protected between 60–90% of farmers would allow shooting of foxes. In the Warwickshire Hunt there are 96 shoots but only 7 professional gamekeepers.''
Mr. Smith-Ryland's important conclusion is that
''on 80% of the farms management of the fox population at present is undertaken solely through dispersal and culling by hounds.''
On another subject, he concludes:
''There would be no welfare gain for the fox if hunting with dogs is banned in lowland England.''