Robin Cook has announced that parliament will be given a free vote on the future of fox hunting on March 18.

But the Tories have demanded to know whether the timing of the vote is linked in any way to Labour backbenchers' support for the beleaguered transport minister Stephen Byers.

The shadow leader of the House, Eric Forth, said Cook must make clear that there was "no link whatsoever" between the two issues.

"If it was ever to come out that there was any truth in that then it must be the most cynical ploy and must be the first example of the countryside being sacrificed for a secretary of state at bay," he said.

Cook insisted that the decision had been taken before the spingate affair blew up. "I have to tell him that on this occasion he is hunting a red-herring," he told Forth.

And anti-hunt Labour backbencher Tony Banks said it was "demeaning" for the media to suggest that there was a link between the two subjects.

Pressure

Although over 200 MPs have signed a motion calling for an early vote on hunting with hounds, Cook said he wanted to give MPs and peers a chance to make their views clear once again.

When the view of the Commons is known the government will bring forward its plans on "how the matter is resolved" before the Easter recess.

Cook said the government is to give MPs a vote on various options ranging from no ban to a total ban.

Ministers hope that a compromise can be found between the Commons and Lords, with the "middle-way" option of regulated hunts an attractive option to some.

Pressure mounted on the government to deliver a vote after the Scottish parliament passed a bill to outlaw hunting earlier this month.

Manifesto

In its manifesto, Labour said it would give MPs a free vote on the future of hunting and then bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

Labour MPs, who this week came to the government's rescue when they stood firmly behind Stephen Byers amid calls for his resignation, believe that ministers must now allow time for the legislation.

Previous attempts to outlaw the sport faltered after the government failed to give enough parliamentary time to ensure the legislation reached the statute book.

Speaking yesterday the prime minister gave a clear hint that he was set to give MPs a vote on the issue in accordance with his pre-election pledge.

"There will be an announcement made on the timing of the vote we have promised, both in the manifesto and the Queen's Speech, and that will be made shortly," he said.

However, his official spokesman remained ambiguous about Blair's attitude to the issue. "The prime minister's voting record speaks for itself," he said.

The Commons is expected to vote for a ban on hunting with hounds by a significant majority although the issue will face considerable opposition in the House of Lords.

Michael Foster, the Labour MP for Worcester who introduced a private member's bill to ban hunting, said last night that he believed the government would make time for the matter to be resolved once and for all.