Hunting Bill brought forward

Jack Straw has confirmed that the Government will be bringing in a Bill this Autumn allowing MPs to have a free vote on the future of foxhunting.  The House of Lords is likely to reject any attempt by MPs to introduce a full ban. If this happens, Labour has intimated that it will reintroduce the proposal in the next Parliament if the Lords take such action, forcing the Bill through if necessary. If a total outlawing does go through, it could still be three years before it is imposed. The Countryside Alliance is considering using the Human Rights Act, due to come into effect this Autumn, to mount a challenge against a full ban, citing restriction of personal freedom as a justification against the outlawing of foxhunting. A swiftly organised demonstration saw over 2000 pro-hunting protesters congregate outside Parliament yesterday to demonstrate against the Bill. Protesters stopped traffic and blew hunting horns in Parliament Square before handing over a petition of 400,000 signatures at the Houses of Parliament. Others held a sit-down protest outside Labour's Millbank HQ. Matthew Askew, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance has suggested that a ban would lead to "the breakdown of law and order in the countryside." The Government has been encouraged by the Burns Report, which suggests a ban would cost no more than 5,000 jobs, and have no great impact on rural economies, except in the depressed South-West. Lord Burns is also understood to say that fox-hunting is not the most efficient way of controlling their numbers. MPs will receive full details of the Bill in July. Meanwhile, Mike Watson's private member's Bill in the Scottish Parliament is still in the early stages of consultation, although Watson maintains that MSPs will only be given a 'yes' or 'no' option when the Bill is voted upon in the New Year. (UK 13/06/00)