HOUNDS AND HUNTING

Early day motion 821, tabled 4 March 2003 by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). Signed by 21 members.

That this House expresses deep concern at the prospect that an estimated 20,000 hounds could be destroyed in the event of legislation outlawing hunting with dogs becoming law; notes that due to the financial burdens placed upon hunt organisers and the inability to retrain these animals for domestic purposes there may be no option other than to destroy them; further emphasises that animal sanctuaries would be unable to cope with the massive influx of redundant hounds; and therefore calls upon all honourable Members supporting a hunt ban to consider the implications, in terms of the number of hounds which may be slaughtered, were a ban to be introduced.

Signatures by party: Conservative 17, Labour 2, Liberal Democrat 1, UUP 1.