asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to seek to ban the use of snares; and whether any exceptions will be permitted.

As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 23 October the Wildlife and Countryside Bill will include a provision banning the use of snares except for pest control. Existing laws applying to the control of pests will be unaffected and where snares are appropriate for pest control they will still be permitted.