Clause 8 - Tests for registration: utility and least suffering
Hunting Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
I am happy to respond now that the hon. Gentleman has explained what he wants. My memory is that the issue of fox dispersal was not raised at all, the argument was not made, and evidence was not provided by anyone. No one at Portcullis House suggested that it was a serious issue. He raised the issue this morning for the first time, so of course I asked for scientific advice, as I mentioned in my response. The scientific advice was that no one has any evidence that the dispersal of foxes is a matter of any utility.
I also asked for advice from our scientists about the way in which foxes behave, and that suggested that there was no question of utility. If the hon. Gentleman makes an assertion during the morning sitting, it is for him to provide evidence that it has utility.