Clause 32 - Group registration: addition or replacement
Hunting Bill
5:30 pm
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough, Conservative)
I rather suspect that the hon. Gentleman's arguments are non-arguments. Subsection (4) is no more than another hurdle over which those who wish to apply for a hunting license must climb. In some hunts, such as the larger and older ones, there will be hundreds of members, if not thousands. Those hunts that are already like other aspects of the rural economy will be required to jump yet another bureaucratic hurdle in order to carry out their legitimate activities. That tells us rather more about the Government, and the Bill and its genesis. Subsection (4) is wholly unnecessary. The prospect of a member of the League Against Cruel Sports joining the Cottesmore, the Fernie or the Quorn and seeking adversely to influence its activities is remote. However, even if somebody did, so what?