The government may pass responsibility for banning fox-hunting to a backbench MP, it has been revealed.

Margaret Beckett, the "anti-hunt" minister responsible for the issue, had been expected to steer the legislation through the Commons where an outright ban was expected to receive the backing of an overwhelming majority of MPs.

However it has been claimed that the legislation may not be presented as a government bill - a move which would anger the anti-hunt lobby.

A spokesman for Beckett's department confirmed that MPs would get the opportunity to vote on the issue, but said this would be a "sounding" which would then be used to determine how the government would proceed with possible legislation.

"Parliament will be given the opportunity to express its opinion in a free vote. This will act as a sounding to probe parliament's feelings on the issue," the spokesman said.

The Queen's Speech commits the government to offering MPs the chance to vote on hunting, but does not spell out in what form that opportunity will come.

The bill is, however, eventually expected to give MPs the option of voting for the status quo, a regulated middle-way or a total ban on hunting with hounds.

When a similar bill was debated in parliament during the last session MPs supported an outright ban on hunting by a large majority.

Despite claims that senior ministers, including Tony Blair, have now cooled on a total ban anti-hunt campaigners still expect the House of Commons to vote to end fox-hunting.

However, the House of Lords is again expected to frustrate the bill and could scupper its chances of becoming law for a second time.

Should the Lords reject the Commons' view, ministers have not ruled out invoking the parliament act to push the measure through parliament.