The government has published proposals to allow hunting with dogs in counties free from foot and mouth disease.

Details of a hunt, including the number of people involved and the distance that it is likely to cover, would be given to officials by hunt leaders in exchange for a permit, which will be available from 17 December. Permits will remain until the outbreak of the disease was over and no new foot and mouth cases were expected.

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said: "Today's proposals address clearly and simply whether or not the current ban on hunting under animal health legislation is justified as a foot-and-mouth control measure. We are considering the way in which controls can be eased in a way that reflects the complexity of veterinary risk assessment and progress made with eradicating the disease".

The plans have been criticised as "a saboteurs charter"; permits would be refused if a hunt could not control those joining on foot, such as campaigners against the sport.

In response, agriculture minister Elliot Morley said: "They (the saboteurs) are difficult to control because there is no control over them. But there is a risk and we don't have the powers to ban them".

Michael said: "We have to appeal to everybody to act responsibly. I think people on both sides of the argument on hunting need to understand that dealing with foot and mouth is not an invitation to act irresponsibly."

Director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, Alastair Jackson, said: "We have got a date and at least we know now, not knowing was affecting so many businesses and this gives everybody the opportunity to begin planning".

Spokesman for the Campaign to Protect Hunted Animals, Douglas Batchelor, said: "Hunting is cruel and unnecessary and we urge the government to honour its commitment to deal with the issue in the current parliamentary session. If the government can find time to carry out risk assessments to allow hunting to resume, then it can find time to ban it".

His calls have been supported by Labour MPs.

Former minister Tony Banks said:"It really is about time the government started thinking about the 225 MPs rather than appeasing the Countryside Alliance".