Lords give tongue on countryside


2 December 1999



Lords give tongue on countryside


A DEBATE on the countryside in the House of Lords yesterday (Wednesday) drew a mixed response from peers.

For Lord Ferrers, a ban on foxhunting would encourage campaigners against shooting and fishing to initiate similar bans.

The Bishop of Lichfield raised concerns about the plight of farmers in his speech. He said that families were being forced to sell homes and herds “built with pride over generations”.

Lord Jopling, the Conservative former agriculture minister, concurred with that opinion. He said he had never known such despair in the countryside.

The Earl of Caithness criticised plans to introduce a statutory right to roam.

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