Andrew Osborne (centre) makes a speech to members of the Sinnington Hunt today

Jack Straw is set to announce that the Government will give parliamentary time for a backbench Bill to outlaw fox-hunting before the General Election.

An inquiry will be set up to assess the impact of such a ban on the rural economy.

But the Home Secretary is not expected to guarantee that the Government will push legislation banning hunting through the Lords if it runs into trouble.

The news came today as Sinnington Hunt members were holding the first full meet of the new season, moving off from Sinnington Manor, near Kirkbymoorside.

Immediately before they set off, a defiant joint Hunt Master, Andrew Osborne, said: "As this is the last opening meet of the Millennium, I have actually told the press, who have been on the phone about Mr Blair's latest plans, that we are still going to be hunting at the end of the next Millennium."

Mr Straw's announcement will mean that a Private Member's Bill on a ban is unlikely to be blocked in the Commons by a small group of pro-hunting MPs.

But the true test of the Government's commitment to outlaw the bloodsport will be whether Tony Blair is prepared to invoke the Parliament Act or can negotiate a deal to force it through the Lords.

The Prime Minister has pledged he would ensure a vote in the Commons on a ban but not that it would be outlawed by the General Election.

But his credibility, and the authority of the Commons, would be severely dented if such a bill was blocked for a second time.

John Greenway, Ryedale MP and Tory home affairs spokesman, believes a ban will not be in place by the election.

But Hugh Bayley, York MP and junior Social Security Minister, said: "The minority who want to retain bloodsports should not be allowed to use procedural devices to frustrate the will of the majority."

Andrew Osborne said: "In terms of any inquiry into fox hunting and the rural jobs issue, as we have always said we have nothing to fear from the truth.

"All we have to fear is ignorance. That may be ignorance by the Government into any rural issue or the ignorance of the urban majority within the country as to the effect any ban on fox hunting would have."

Mr Osborne said: "Whatever Mr Blair and his Government do is going to come as no surprise because they seem to blow with the wind."

There was no sign of any hunt protesters as Hunt supporters gathered.

After observing the traditionsof drinking a stirrup cup, and eating food proffered by Hunt members milling around among the horses, the Hunt moved off at about 11am.

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