Question

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 18 February 2026.

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Photo of Irene Campbell Irene Campbell Labour, North Ayrshire and Arran

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed consultation on banning trail hunting will allow submissions on family pets being killed by hunting hounds; and what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals on this matter.

Photo of Angela Eagle Angela Eagle The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Government will hold a consultation on its plans to ban trail hunting. Defra will be guided by the Government's consultation principles in shaping the proposed consultation. The department plans to introduce legislation to ban the activity of trail hunting when Parliamentary time allows. Under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control. The owner of any dog that is dangerously out of control may be put in prison for up to 14 years, banned from ever owning a dog and receive an unlimited fine.

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