Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of trail hunting being used to circumvent the Hunting Act 2004.

The Government is aware of concerns on this point. On 26 March, Defra launched a Consultation on Proposals to Prohibit Trail Hunting in England and Wales inviting views on the Government’s proposed approach to implementing a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully in developing proposals for an effective ban.