ANNIVERSARY OF HUNTING ACT 2004

Early day motion 1627, tabled 13 February 2006 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 109 members.

That this House celebrates the first anniversary of the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004 and the end of the gratuitous cruelty of traditional hare-coursing, stag hunting and foxhunting; congratulates the hunts who changed to drag hunting, eliminating the prolonged pursuit and barbaric deaths of defenceless animals; is delighted that the Act did not destroy 35,000 jobs or the economy of the countryside nor lead to the putting down of thousands of hounds and horses; regrets that some compassionate concessions in the Act have been exploited to continue some blood sport activity; understands the cautious approach of the police in the past year but now calls for rigorous vigilance and prosecutions of breaches of the Act; and anticipates further advances in the welfare of game birds and circus animals and is confident that no future legislators will bring back the cruelty inherent in traditional hare-coursing, stag hunting and foxhunting.

Signatures by party: Labour 95, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 1, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.