Getting the issue back on agenda (From Penarth Times)

Getting the issue back on agenda

FOXHUNTING with dogs must be banned once and for all.

This is the view of Penarth's Assembly Member Lorraine Barrett, who last week strongly opposed the "cruel" activity at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton.

Mrs Barrett, chairman of the all-party animal welfare group in the Assembly, said: "As a Labour party member here at conference I am doing my utmost to make sure this issue gets onto the agenda and we ban foxhunting once and for all.

"In the Labour Party manifesto there was a commitment to reintroduce the issue to the House of Commons at an early opportunity."

According to Mrs Barrett, the government has also pledged to enable Parliament to reach a conclusion on hunting and to find a way forward if the issue continues to be blocked in the House of Lords.

She said: "MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a ban on hunting with dogs, but the hunting bill fell in the House of Lords."

While at the conference, Mrs Barrett stopped off at the RSPCA stall. The AM is a keen supporter of the charity and in particular endorses their work regarding the ban of hunting with dogs.

She said: "The RSPCA is strongly opposed to the hunting of foxes with dogs and believes that these activities are both cruel and unnecessary as control measures.

"They have also welcomed the announcement that there will be a further vote on the future of hunting."