The coalition agreement says that they will “bring forward a motion on a free vote enabling the House of Commons to express its view on the repeal of the Hunting Act.” I recently wrote to our MP, Sajid Javid, to ask him what his intentions were should MPs be given the chance to consider repealing the ban.

I am one of the compassionate majority of the British public who does not want to see animals chased and torn apart by dogs for ‘sport’ and am deeply concerned that such a repeal would mean deer, foxes, hare and mink could be legally chased and killed for entertainment once again.

The Hunting Act protects Britain’s wildlife against an activity which is both cruel and unnecessary as it makes it illegal to chase and kill these animals for ‘sport’.

Repealing the Hunting Act would in practice mean condoning an activity which serves no function other than to provide entertainment for people who enjoy using dogs to tear animals to pieces.

In his reply to my inquiry, Mr Javid alluded to the Burns inquiry and stated that it: “failed to conclude that hunting was more cruel than other methods of wildlife management” – what it actually says is that while there is a lack of scientific evidence on the effect of the hunt, it was satisfied that “this experience seriously compromises the welfare of the fox.” There is overwhelming scientific evidence to show that hunting with dogs is cruel. The inquiry goes on to say that none of the legal methods of fox killing were without difficulty, but lamping, the use of torches and lamps at night, “has fewer welfare implications.” In his response, Mr Javid stated that (given the opportunity) he would vote to repeal the act, despite the fact the he finds hunting “unattractive.”

It seems to me that our MP is more concerned with finding favour with the local hunting and shooting set than taking the time to establish the facts surrounding what is an important issue to many – an Ipsos MORI poll in September 2009 found that 75 per cent of people support the ban on fox hunting and while the act isn’t perfect, this is no justification for a repeal. Jo Fone, Bromsgrove