Date set for vote on fox-hunting ban

MPs will vote on whether to ban fox-hunting on Wednesday next week, Leader of the Commons Peter Hain announced today.

MPs will vote on whether to ban fox-hunting on Wednesday next week, Leader of the Commons Peter Hain announced today.

The September 15 vote could lead to a ban coming into effect in two years' time, as the Government has made it clear it is determined to quash any opposition in the House of Lords.

The rural affairs minister Alun Michael announced yesterday that MPs would be given a free vote on an outright ban on fox-hunting and hare-coursing so the Government can deliver on its commitment to resolve the issue before the general election.

If passed, the ban on hare-coursing would come into effect within three months.

The two-year delay in outlawing fox-hunting would allow time for rural communities to cope with the impact of the changes, said Mr Michael.