Hunting Bill offers three options

The Government is to introduce its long-awaited Bill on hunting with dogs, it was confirmed in the Queen's Speech today.

The Government is to introduce its long-awaited Bill on hunting with dogs, it was confirmed in the Queen's Speech today.

The Bill will be an options measure with three choices for MPs to vote on according to their consciences.

The Government made clear there will be a free vote, not on party lines, on an issue which arouses strong passions on all sides.

The three options in the Bill would:

* Provide for an almost total ban on hunting with dogs

* Bring in a compulsory regulatory system requiring all of those who wanted to hunt to obtain a licence

* Offer a voluntary system of self-regulation.

The Government said the options had been put forward by three pressure groups, respectively Deadline 2000; the Middle Way Group and the Countryside Alliance.