A leading anti-hunting group was on Monday expected to publish a legal opinion that banning hunting with hounds would not breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

Government Response: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

A spokesperson for DEFRA said: "The prime minister said he would honour the manifesto pledge of allowing parliament to come to a conclusion on this issue."

Forum Response: International Fund for Animal Welfare

Phyllis Campbell-McRae, director of IFAW UK, said: "All the scientific and moral arguments in favour of a ban on hunting have been won.

"Now we have evidence that there are no human rights or procedural issues that can prevent the Hunting Bill becoming law when the government reintroduces the legislation.

"The hunting lobby may resort to ever more desperate measures to defend their so-called 'sport,' but there is no human right to be cruel to animals. There can be no more delays - now is the time for the ban." 

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance said: "The weekend papers contained yet more speculation about the return of a Hunting Bill triggered by an Early Day Motion to which 200 Labour MP's have pledged their support.