London - The British government paved the way for a ban on fox hunting yesterday when it declared it was prepared to give time and help to a backbench Bill to abolish hunting with hounds, Rachel Donnelly reports.
The Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, announced an independent inquiry into the effect a ban on hunting with hounds would have on the rural economy and said after it reports back next spring the government would be prepared to allocate time to a Private Members' Bill. MPs would be given a free vote on the issue.
