"A Bill will be introduced to enable Parliament to reach a conclusion on hunting with dogs."

The "contentious" hunting bill has been reintroduced in this year's Queen's speech. Alun Michael, minister for rural affairs, is still in the process of reviewing the evidence from the hunting consultation, which began in May 2002.

The government has announced that rural affairs minister, Alun Michael, will introduce legislation to "enable parliament to reach a conclusion" on hunting with dogs in England and Wales.

Legislation has already been passed by the Scottish parliament banning hunting with dogs.

DEFRA, the department overseeing the bill, admitted the issue was "contentious" - but hinted that the final vote will be on a compromise deal.

Michael is still reviewing the evidence from consultation meetings he held with interested groups in September.

The department said the minister would "build on the work of the Burns report on hunting with dogs and identify as much common ground as possible".

The final bill would be "based on evidence and principle".

It is thought that hunts will continue in areas where it can be proved that the alternative would prove less humane.

Shadow environment secretary, David Lidington, argued that there were more pressing matters to address in rural Britain today.

"Poor public transport, inadequate broadband communications, the pressures on village shops, pubs and sub-post offices - all affect people's ability to find work and to enjoy an acceptable quality of life in the countryside," he said.

"We are in the middle of the worst agricultural recession since the 1930s. To concentrate on hunting when there are so many other problems besetting the countryside betrays a lunatic sense of priorities."

But the government is treading carefully and hopes to secure closure on an issue which has dogged ministers since Labour came to power in 1997.

Most Labour backbenchers want an outright ban but, as September's countryside march showed, there will be strong resistance from hunting supporters.

Pro-hunting campaigners signalled they would oppose anything that amounted to an outright ban.

Countryside Alliance chairman John Jackson said: "The Alliance looks forward to seeing the actual shape of the forthcoming legislation, which today's announcement leaves unclear.

"We expect the government to keep its word and make proposals which are fair and based on principle and evidence. Any departure from this would result in resistance not only by rural people but by all who value social justice."

The anti-hunt coalition Campaigning to Protect Hunted Animals said they hoped MPs would carry out their pledge to amend the legislation to include a total ban.

The group - which includes the League Against Cruel Sports, the RSPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare - welcomed the fact that the bill was returning to the Commons.

"We welcome today's announcement but we'd like to remind the government that any compromise remains unacceptable," said a spokesman.

"When the bill is published in full it must resolve the issue once and for all, it must ban fox hunting and all parties must allow their MPs to have a free vote on what is a moral issue."

If agreement on the issue remains elusive, Alun Michael has made it clear that the government would be prepared to use the Parliament Act to force the bill through the House of Lords, but only if MPs back a bill that provides for a total ban.

House of Commons

First reading: December 3 2002(HC Bill 10)

Second reading: December 16 2002

Committee stage (Standing Committee F)

• 1st sitting: January 7 2003
• 2nd sitting: January 9 2003 (am)
• 3rd sitting: January 9 2003 (pm)
• 4th sitting: January 14 2003 (am)
• 5th sitting: January 14 2003 (pm)
• 6th sitting: January 16 2003 (am)
• 7th sitting: January 16 2003 (pm)
• 8th sitting: January 21 2003 (am)
• 9th sitting: (part 1) January 21 2003 (pm)
• 9th sitting: (part 2) January 21 2003 (pm)
• 10th sitting: January 23 2003 (am)
• 11th sitting: January 23 2003 (pm)
• 12th sitting: January 28 2003 (am)
• 13th sitting: (part 1) January 28 2003 (pm)
• 13th sitting: (part 2) January 28 2003 (pm)
• 14th sitting: January 30 2003 (am)
• 15th sitting: January 30 2003 (pm)
• 16th sitting: February 4 2003 (am)
• 17th sitting: February 4 2003 (pm) (part I)(part II)
• 18th sitting: February 6 2003 (am)
• 19th sitting: February 6 2003 (pm)
• 20th sitting: February 11 2003 (am)
• 21st sitting: February 11 2003 (pm) part 2
• 21st sitting: February 11 2003 (pm) part 2
• 22nd sitting: February 13 2003 (am)
• 23rd sitting: February 13 2003 (pm)
• 24th sitting: February 25 2003 (am)
• 25th sitting: February 25 2003 (pm)
• 26th sitting: February 27 2003 (am)
• 27th sitting: February 27 2003 (pm)
• Bill as amended in committee: HC Bill 62

Remaining stages: June 30 2003 The bill as amended: HC Bill 135

Standing Committee F (recommittal)

• First sitting: July 3 2003 (am)
• 2nd sitting: July 3 2003 (pm)

Remaining stages: July 9 2003

House of Lords

First reading: July 10 2003 (HL Bill 95)

Second reading: September 16 2003

Committee stage:

• 1st day: October 21 2003
• 2nd day: October 28 2003
• 3rd day: no date