Lords to propose compromise on fox-hunting

A last-ditch attempt to prevent a hunting ban will be launched in the House of Lords today.

Peers are expected to back a cross-party amendment reviving plans for a licensing system. The move will place the Lords on a collision course with the Commons where Labour MPs are determined to bring in a complete ban.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael has said the Government will use the Parliament Act if the peers continue to defy the will of the Commons.

But the threat has been ignored by the Lords who are expected to vote overwhelmingly for the licensed hunting, or Middle Way, option. The move is designed to embarrass the Government which suggested a licensing system two years ago, but saw it rejected by backbenchers.

Scores of amendments to the Hunting Bill have been tabled for debate during the threeday committee stage in the Lords. The majority have been proposed by a cross-party group including Labour's Lord Donoughue and Baroness Mallalieu, the crossbencher Lord Carlile and the Conservative Lord Mancroft.

Lord Donoughue said: "We stand a reasonable chance of getting this through because we had a majority of over 300 for the Middle Way option when that was voted on."

Amendments have also been put down in the Lords calling for improved compensation for those affected by the ban.

The Bill is expected to return the Commons on 17 November where MPs have vowed to overturn any amendments which water down an outright ban.

A spokesman for the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs said the Government was a "neutral facilitator" for the Bill.

Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports said: "In a desperate attempt to retain their grotesque sport, prohunt peers are attempting to portray themselves as being politically reasonable."