We would like to thank all those who helped us in our inquiry, including all the organisations and individuals who submitted evidence to us. We are particularly grateful to representatives of the Countryside Alliance and Deadline 2000, the hunts and other groups whom we visited, the research teams, participants at our seminars, the Home Office, Professor David Macdonald and Mr Michael Fordham, who assisted us, respectively, on scientific and legal matters and our stenographer, Cheryl Slater.

References such as "MDHA 1" refer to ‘first round’ evidence. References such as "IFAW 2" refer to ‘second round’ evidence. Other details refer to the paragraph numbers in the evidence unless otherwise stated.

The CD Rom in the back cover of this Report contains the following material: terms of reference; letter of 19 January 2000 inviting ‘first round’ evidence; evidence submitted by the main organisations and a number of individuals; details of visits made by the Committee; details of the research commissioned by the Inquiry; draft research reports; transcripts of the seminars held to discuss the draft research reports; final research reports; transcript of a seminar on the legal aspects of implementing a ban, plus supporting papers; notes of 'by invitation' meetings held with supporters of the Countryside Alliance and Deadline 2000; letter of 17 April 2000 inviting ‘second round’ evidence; all the responses received to that invitation; and the Committee’s report.

We welcome your comments on this site. Prepared 12 June 2000