The Countryside Alliance's "Still here, still hunting" badge has this week been the subject of a Parliamentary question from anti-hunting Birmingham Hall Green MP, Roger Godsiff. Read on for Mr Godsiff's question and the Goverment's robust response which acknowledges hunting's economic and social importance to rural communities. While a waste of Parliamentary time we are pleased to see our badge is being noticed.
Mr Roger Godsiff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to prohibit the sale of badges which promote illegal activity by mounted groups of hunters hunting foxes with dogs; and if she will make an assessment of the prevalence of this activity by (a) the Countryside Alliance and (b) other groups.
George Eustice:
The Government is not aware of the sale of any badges promoting illegal activity. If the hon. Member is referring to badges marking the tenth anniversary of the Hunting Act coming into force, it is quite within the rights of organisations such as the Countryside Alliance to promote an activity that can be carried out legally in accordance with the exemptions set out in the Act, and is of economic and social importance to many of our most rural communities.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-12-17/219164