FARMERS in Wales should still be allowed to use dogs to hunt foxes on their land, the first minister told AMs yesterday. Rhodri Morgan said: "I have always been in favour of allowing farmers to use dogs, not for the sake of sport, but for purposes of controlling the fox population." He said he believed this form of hunting would still be allowed under legislation currently being discussed in Westminster. South Wales East Tory AM William Graham said: "You will recall that this Assembly agreed that any decision to ban hunting with dogs should take place here." Alun Ffred Jones, Plaid Cymru Caernarfon AM, also asked the first minister to reveal what he was doing to help Welsh farmers reliant on hunting with dogs as a form of pest control. Mr Morgan said he had written to the Westminster Government asking the decision on any ban in Wales be made in the Assembly. He told AMs the UK Government said this would be impossible as many hunts operated on both side of the English-Welsh border. But he said he appreciated the "different patterns of hunting in Wales" including the greater use of gun packs. He added: "As far as I am aware the bill is worded to allow this." | 
