The government's plans to ban hunting breach European human rights law by failing to offer adequate compensation, a parliamentary joint committee concluded on Monday.

A spokesman for DEFRA told ePolitix.com: "We remain confident that the bill is compatible with human rights (as has been certified by ministers).

"We will of course give detailed consideration to the committee's comments."We are pleased the committee has endorsed the government's view that the bill would not interfere with private life. The committee indicates that even if it did so, the controls could be justified on the grounds of protection for animal welfare.

"On the issue of compensation, we agree with the previous view of the committee (which was consistent with ministers' views) that compensation would not be payable since the bill did not deprive people of property but merely restricted their use of it."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "It is inconceivable that the government would encourage parliament to spend further time on a bill about which the joint parliamentary committee has issued such a strong warning.

"As the government had suggested, amending the original licensing bill to ban all hunting 'wrecked' it. The government promised legislation based on principle and evidence: it should consider sensible proposals which address animal welfare, not human behaviour, if it wants to meet that obligation."