New clause 11 - Use of dogs below ground

Part of Hunting Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:30 am on 25 February 2003.

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Photo of James Gray James Gray Conservative, North Wiltshire 9:30, 25 February 2003

Thank you for that clarification, Mr. Stevenson. I am sure that the hon. Member for Weaver Vale (Mr. Hall) will also be grateful for it.

If there is a move to ban foxhunting on Report, along the lines of new clause 12, or if there is a vote on

new clause 12 this afternoon—although the hon. Member for Worcester has said that he will probably not move it—will the Minister stand up for his own Bill or cave in to his Back Benchers? [Interruption.] From a sedentary position, the Minister says, rather crossly, ''Don't be so juvenile''. If new clause 12 is moved this afternoon, or if a similar clause is moved on Report to ban foxhunting, will he stand up for his Bill as drafted or cave in to his Back Benchers who are trying to wreck it? Will the Minister's humiliation become even more public than it is already, or will he bravely stand up for the Bill as it lies before the Committee today? The Minister might like to intervene to tell me which he intends to do.