Sir.-I wish to congratulate Lord Portsmouth on his decision to hunt.

I am sure he will only be one of many, some who will not have been out before, who will wish to enjoy the many aspects of a day's hunting.

He is no doubt well aware of Lord Burns' statement in the House of Lords that "there are no grounds for banning hunting on the issue of cruelty".

Lord Burns was commissioned to produce an independent report on the subject, which most Labour MPs appear to have ignored.

The use of the Parliament Act under such circumstances must be one of the most flagrant abuses of power in modern history.

-James Crosbie Dawson, Northington Farm, Overton.