21 February 2000

Dear Lord Burns,

The Trinity Foot Beagles (TFB) is a pack of beagles which has been in existence since 1862 and is primarily for the benefit of students of Cambridge University and Anglia University. The pack has made an annual visit to Northumberland since 1888 when one of the early Masters took the hounds to his family home during the summer vacation.

Up to fifty supporters of the TFB go up to Northumberland each year to follow the beagles. This significant number of people spend a considerable amount of money in a very rural area. The beagles are kennelled at Callaly near Rothbury and the visitors stay in holiday cottages or bed and breakfasts near by. The amount spent in a typical year is as follows:

Accommodation £3,400

Transport £1,700

Food £1,500

Eating out £2,200

Entertainment £600

Other £400

Total £9,800

There are many other packs which also visit Northumberland during the hunting season and collectively they make a significant contribution to the fragile tourist economy. The farming community in particular benefits as it provides much of the accommodation and bed and breakfast.

If hunting was banned Northumberland would lose this expenditure at a stroke. It is difficult to see how one of the most remote areas of England would be able to replace the income that hunting provides. Agriculture has its own problems at present and removing perhaps £250,000 per annum from the local economy would create extra hardship.

Yours sincerely,

Date uploaded to site 12 May 2000