Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner writes: An online petition on Parliament's website calling for driven grouse shooting to be banned has now reached the threshold required for a petition to be considered by the House of Commons Petitions Committee for a debate.
At its meeting on the 6th September, the Petitions Committee agreed in principle to allocate time for a debate but before setting a date they want to "hear evidence" about grouse shooting to help inform that debate. Given how deeply misleading the petition was about grouse shooting, and the way in which many of the signatures were obtained, this is something that we have welcomed.
The Committee is asking for written evidence which can be submitted by any individual or group with an interest or expertise in grouse moor management. All submissions will be published on the inquiry website page. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 5 October.