Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Sentencing Council on guidance for magistrates on dealing with illegal hare coursing offences prosecuted under the Game Act 1831.

Ministers meet the Chairman of the Sentencing Council regularly to discuss a range of issues related to sentencing. The Sentencing Council meets on a monthly basis to discuss matters relating to sentencing and guidelines and a representative of the Lord Chancellor attends those meetings. Officials in the MoJ also meet regularly with members of the Office of the Sentencing Council and discuss a wide range of issues.