APPENDIX 4
DETAILS OF COMMISSIONED RESEARCH
4.1 Details are given below of the specifications for the main pieces of research commissioned by the Committee of Inquiry. The draft and final research reports relating to these contracts are on the CD Rom accompanying the Committee's report, together with transcripts of the seminar proceedings at which the draft research reports were discussed.
4.2 Intended contracts 1 and 9 were not let.
Contract 2: Hunting with dogs: Expenditure, and numbers employed, by hunts and their followers
Research objectives
a) to provide independent verification of the quality and accuracy of the Countryside Alliance data set
b) to estimate the direct expenditure by hunts and their supporters on hunting and hunting-related matters, broken down by main categories
c) to estimate the number of people employed directly by hunts, showing what proportion of their time is directly related to hunting activities, whether there are seasonal variations and in what capacities they are employed
d) to estimate the number of people employed by hunt followers on hunting-related activities, showing what proportion of their time is directly related to hunting activities, whether there are seasonal variations and in what capacities they are employed
e) to estimate the income of hunts, broken down by main categories
f) to draw attention to any marked variations in these figures with respect to different types of hunting/coursing and different locations within England and Wales.
All data for (b) to (f) should be aggregated at both national and regional levels and should be presented alongside comparative figures for the economy as a whole.
Contract 3: The Indirect effects of hunting with DOGS on the RURAL ECONOMY AND THE LONGER-TERM EFFECTS OF A BAN
Research objectives:
a) to undertake a critical review of the existing literature relating to employment/expenditure in rural areas indirectly generated by hunting and to the longer-term effects of a ban
b) to suggest, in the light of existing evidence and any further information which can readily be obtained, what is the appropriate multiplier to use in estimating the indirect effect on employment/expenditure in rural areas of hunting with dogs
c) to describe and categorise significant indirect and multiplier effects resulting from the pursuit of hunting with dogs in England and Wales, indicating the types of employment and expenditure most likely to be affected and regional variations
d) to consider the extent to which, and over what timescale, any negative effects of a ban on hunting would be counteracted by other changes which are occurring, or are likely to occur, in the rural economy (for example, in patterns of employment)
e) to indicate the extent to which this would be likely to vary according to sector and locality
f) in the light of the findings from the review, to conduct multiplier analysis based on the data supplied by the Committee’s own commissioned research on direct impacts. This should include estimates of employment equivalents from the expenditure figures for hunts and hunt followers. The analysis should distinguish as far as possible between different types of hunting and different areas of England and Wales.
CONTRACT 4: The effects of hunting with DOGS on the SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Research objectives:
a) to review existing literature relating to the impact on the social and cultural life of the English and Welsh countryside of hunting with dogs and to the effects of a ban on such hunting. It is not anticipated that this literature will be extensive
b) to provide information, from a number of areas where hunting takes place, which assesses what involvement or contact, if any, individuals in those localities have with hunting or hunting-related activities; what impact hunting or these activities have on their lives
c) the extent and strength of support for, or opposition to, hunting and these activities; the main reasons underlying different views; the likely impact of a ban on hunting; and the social and occupational background of the people concerned
d) to consider the social and cultural role of hunting in representative localities in England and Wales
e) to summarise the findings, distinguishing those matters on which there is general agreement from those which are disputed and distinguishing as far as possible between different types of hunting and different areas of England and Wales
f) to suggest what further research would need to be carried out to clarify areas of dispute and to remedy significant gaps in our understanding of these matters.
CONTRACT 5: MANAGEMENT OF THE POPULATION OF FOXES, DEER, HARES AND MINK AND THE IMPACT OF HUNTING WITH DOGS
Research objectives:
a) to give an account, drawn from existing literature, of the reasons why landowners, farmers and others seek to exercise control over the populations of foxes, deer, hares and mink in the interests of agriculture, forestry, fishing and land management in England and Wales. This should also include control in the interests of conservation of wildlife, habitats and landscape
b) to consider the impact, from these perspectives, of the hunting with dogs of these animals, drawing out such quantitative information as can be provided
c) to consider the likely effects, from these perspectives, of a ban on such hunting
d) to summarise the findings, distinguishing those matters on which there is general agreement from those which are disputed and distinguishing as far as possible between different types of hunting and different areas of England and Wales
e) to suggest what further research would need to be carried out to clarify areas of dispute and to remedy significant gaps in our understanding of these matters.
CONTRACT 6: METHODS OF CONTROLLING FOXES, DEER, HARES AND MINK
Research objectives:
a) to review existing evidence relating to the different methods of controlling foxes, deer, hares and mink, including hunting with dogs, in England and Wales
b) to consider the actual and potential effectiveness, practicability and cost of those methods, quantifying the results wherever possible
c) to discuss issues relating to the acceptability and wider impact of the different methods of control
d) to summarise the findings, distinguishing those matters on which there is general agreement from those which are disputed and distinguishing where necessary between different areas of England and Wales
e) to suggest what further research would need to be carried out to clarify areas of dispute and to remedy significant gaps in our understanding of these matters.
CONTRACT 7: THE EFFECTS OF HUNTING WITH DOGS IN ENGLAND AND WALES ON THE WELFARE OF DEER
Research objectives:
a) to review the existing scientific evidence relating to the effect of hunting with dogs on the welfare of deer
b) to review the existing scientific evidence relating to the ways in which the welfare of deer is affected by other methods of control or as part of their natural life cycle
c) to summarise the main findings, distinguishing those areas about which there is general agreement from those which are disputed
d) to summarise, in layman's language as far as possible, what conclusions can reliably be drawn about the welfare of deer during, or subsequent to, hunting with dogs, in comparison with the effect on their welfare of other methods of control
e) to record any existing scientific evidence relating to the effect on the welfare of foxes, hares and mink of hunting with dogs, in comparison with other methods of control or as part of their natural life cycle
f) to suggest what further research would need to be carried out to clarify areas of dispute and to remedy significant gaps in our understanding of these matters.
CONTRACT 8: DRAG AND BLOODHOUND HUNTING
Research objectives:
a) to review existing evidence relating to the practice of drag or bloodhound hunting (or similar activities) in England and Wales and in other countries
b) to undertake any necessary additional enquiries, in particular in areas of England and Wales where drag or bloodhound hunting takes place, in order to assess the following:
- the attitudes of participants and followers to drag or bloodhound hunting
- the age, social groups and other characteristics of those who participate in, or follow, drag or bloodhound hunting
- whether those concerned were previously, or are presently, involved in hunting animals with dogs
- whether attitudes to drag or bloodhound hunting differ significantly between those who have hunted animals with dogs and those who have not done so
- where people have previously devoted, or are presently devoting, resources to hunting animals with dogs, how these compare with those devoted to drag or bloodhound hunting
- the attitudes of local landowners and farmers to drag or bloodhound hunting and in what circumstances they allow these activities to take place
- the possible scope for making drag or bloodhound hunting more attractive, both to those who currently hunt dogs with animals and those who do not do so
- what effect, if any, drag or bloodhound hunting has on wildlife, the landscape and habitats.
c) to summarise the findings, distinguishing those matters on which there is general agreement from those which are disputed and distinguishing where necessary between different areas of England and Wales.
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