What was the Burns Committee?
The Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales was established by the Government in December 1999, with a remit to inquire into: • the practical aspects of hunting with dogs and its impact on the rural economy, agriculture and pest control, the social and cultural life of the countryside, the management and conservation of wildlife, and animal welfare in particular areas of England and Wales; • the consequences for these issues of any ban on hunting with dogs; and • how any ban might be implemented. The Inquiry Committee was led by Lord Burns and included Dr Victoria Edwards, Professor Sir John Marsh, Lord Soulsby and Professor Michael Winter. It was established to provide independent findings to the Government and the Public to inform the debate on hunting, but was not asked to recommend whether hunting should be banned or to consider moral or ethical issues. The Committee’s report (The Burns Report) was published in June 2000 and has become widely recognised as
