BURY MPs are confident that a ban on hunting with dogs will arrive soon, despite a lack of Government promises.

Ivan Lewis and David Chaytor are urging as many of their colleagues as possible to vote for a ban in today's (November 28) Commons debate.

Labour leaders have refused to guarantee the Bill enough time in the current Parliament. They worry that pro-hunting members of the House of Lords will savage the proposals, using up precious time which could be spent debating other Government policies.

But Mr Lewis, who represents Bury South, hopes that a show of strength today will force the Government to move more quickly.

"I am pretty confident that, by the end of this Parliament, there will be a ban providing that a large number of people vote for it today," he said.

"I'm not bothered if it's not within the next six months," he said. "I can understand why not, because of genuine fears that it would tie up other legislation and the Lords might make life difficult.

"As long as we do get a ban, within two or three years perhaps, then that's fine."

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