Commons to debate Statutory Instrument on hunting
14 July 2015
The Leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, announced today that the Commons will not debate the Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015 on Wednesday 15 July.
The Leader of the House announced in the Business statement on 9 July 2015 that MPs would debate a motion to approve the Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015 on Wednesday 15 July 2015.
- Watch Parliament TV: Leader of the House statement announcing changes to business for Wednesday 15 July 2015
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Animal welfare
Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015
The Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015 was laid on Thursday 9 July under the affirmative procedure.
- Read the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015 (external website)
The Statutory Instrument must be approved by the House of Commons and House of Lords before it can come into force. The instrument has not yet been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. The Order is expected to be considered by the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 21 July 2015.
The amendments would remove the limit of two dogs that applies to several of the exemptions under the Act (stalking and flushing out, rescue of wild mammals, research and observation) and instead allow a number of dogs that is appropriate, having regard to the terrain and any other relevant circumstances.
The Hunting Act, which prohibits the pursuit and killing of a wild animal by dogs outside of listed exemptions, will remain in place.
- Read DEFRA news story: Amendments to Hunting Act proposed (external website)
Related Information
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.
The Library has published a briefing paper on amending The Hunting Act 2004.
Statutory Instruments
Statutory Instruments are a type of delegated legislation. Delegated legislation allows the Government to make changes to a law without needing to push through a completely new Act of Parliament.
The original Act (also known as primary legislation) would have provisions that allow for future delegated legislation to alter the law to differing degrees.
These changes range from the technical, like altering the level of a fine, to fleshing out Acts with greater detail; often an Act contains only a broad framework of its purpose and more complex content is added through delegated legislation.
Watching proceedings from the public gallery
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