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VOTE ON FOX HUNTING
The Government has announced a free vote on a Bill to outlaw hunting foxes with dogs.
The vote, which will also include a ban on hare-coursing, is expected to be rushed through the House of Commons in the next two weeks.
Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said a date for the Bill to be debated in the Commons would be announced by Leader of the House Peter Hain on Friday.
It is widely expected to take place on Wednesday next week, with a vote the same day.
He made clear that the Government was ready to invoke the Parliament Act to force the Bill through if the House of Lords attempted to block a vote in favour by MPs.
The Act would mean any objections from the House of Lords could be over-ruled.
But it may still take two years before the ban comes into effect - after the next General Election.
Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Hunting Bill is coming back to the House of Commons.
"This heralds the high point of our 80-year campaign to expose fox hunting as a cruel sport and to get it banned."
But shadow environment secretary Tim Yeo said a Conservative government would simply reverse the ban.
He said: "The vast majority of Conservatives believe a ban is an infringement of civil liberties and damaging to the countryside."
The Government has announced a free vote on a Bill to outlaw hunting foxes with dogs.
The vote, which will also include a ban on hare-coursing, is expected to be rushed through the House of Commons in the next two weeks.
Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said a date for the Bill to be debated in the Commons would be announced by Leader of the House Peter Hain on Friday.
It is widely expected to take place on Wednesday next week, with a vote the same day.
He made clear that the Government was ready to invoke the Parliament Act to force the Bill through if the House of Lords attempted to block a vote in favour by MPs.
The Act would mean any objections from the House of Lords could be over-ruled.
But it may still take two years before the ban comes into effect - after the next General Election.
Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Hunting Bill is coming back to the House of Commons.
"This heralds the high point of our 80-year campaign to expose fox hunting as a cruel sport and to get it banned."
But shadow environment secretary Tim Yeo said a Conservative government would simply reverse the ban.
He said: "The vast majority of Conservatives believe a ban is an infringement of civil liberties and damaging to the countryside."