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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much Government covid-19 support has been allocated to fox hunts during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government released an unprecedented package of support, including loan schemes delivered through the British Business Bank, grant funding and wage packages, to help as many individuals and business as possible during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the Government is unable to comment on individual applications, any financial support provided (if provided) would be subject to the terms and conditions of the specific scheme. For commercial confidentiality reasons, the British Business Bank also cannot disclose whether companies are or are not in receipt of support without their approval.

The Hunting Act 2004 bans the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions set out in Schedule 1 to the Act. Any support to hunting related businesses, if provided, would only have been to those carrying out activities related to legal hunting under these exemptions.