Legislation outlawing hunting might be a casualty of new laws being introduced to deal with terrorism and giving the government greater powers to cope with another foot and mouth outbreak.

Robin Cook, leader of the House of Commons told journalists at Westminster: "It is right that the bills from September 11 should get priority. We will obviously keep under review the present programme to make sure we can carry through as much of that as we can, but renewed pressures may well have consequences."

He later suggested that the decision as to whether to proceed with legislation to outlaw hunting will not be taken until the New Year.