Schedule 1 - Exempt Hunting
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)
I did a few moments ago. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman was not following what I was saying. Evidence presented at the public hearings explored the suffering caused during the chase and the subsequent kill when hunting different species with dogs. I have dealt with the nuisance aspect and the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal made it clear that he is not disputing that. For rats and rabbits, the evidence was that the chase was typically extremely short—a matter of seconds—and that dogs were sufficiently larger than the quarry to ensure a relatively quick and humane kill. For rabbits, a rapid death caused by a dog involves less suffering than alternative methods of control such as gassing. I have referred to the alternatives of trapping and gassing rats on a number of occasions.