Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current penalties for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in deterring illegal hunting.

This Government has not made such an assessment to date. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. The Act already provides for a range of penalties, including fines and forfeiture of dogs, vehicles and equipment used to commit an offence.