PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has attacked the government for failing to bring in immediate legislation to ban hunting with hounds.

He reacted angrily to Commons leader Robin Cook's statement that there would be two new votes on the issue before a bill was introduced.

Mr Cook said MPs and peers would get an "indicative" vote on whether to have a total ban, leave hunting legal or choose a "middle way" of licensing and regulating the hunting of foxes, deer and hares.

Mr Cook and Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Mr Straw support this middle way option.

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans opposes any restrictions on hunting but Mr Prentice and fellow East Lancashire MPs Janet Anderson (Rossendale and Darwen), Greg Pope (Hyndburn) and Peter Pike (Burnley) all support a total ban.

Mr Prentice told Mr Cook: "Licensed killing for fun is simply unacceptable. You may support the middle way but, with respect, you are in a tiny minority.

"Why do we need to march the troops to the top of the hill yet again when the view of the House of Commons is as plain as a pikestaff?

"On March 18 instead of having a completely useless and meaningless indicative vote, why do we not take the bill passed by the House of Commons in the last session, debate it, vote on it, and send it to the House of Lords?

"If the Lords reject it, it will automatically become law this year. We should not continue the farce until 2003/4 when people outside the Commons and a majority of those inside it want the matter resolved now."

Mr Cook said he was responding to a desire by MPs for a debate on hunting and said the government had to take account of the minority of those who supported it.

He said it was important to bring in a new bill to iron out flaws in the previous proposed legislation.