THE Government is "relaxed" about any delays to the implementation of the hunting ban caused by the Countryside Alliance's legal challenge, Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said yesterday.

Mr Michael told the Commons the Government would not oppose demands for an injunction on the Hunting Act preventing the ban coming into effect from Friday, February 18.

Mr Michael (pictured right) said he was confident the Countryside Alliance's challenge to the validity of the Parliament Act - which was used to force the ban on to the statute book last November - would ultimately fail.

But he said ministers wanted to allow the legal process to run its course to ensure there is "certainty" about the legal status of the ban.

The legal challenge to the Hunting Act will be heard on Tuesday, January 25. If it fails, the Countryside Alliance has said it will appeal against the decision and apply for an injunction until the appeal is heard.

Mr Michael said: "I don't know what view the court will take, but we neither oppose nor support such an application if that stage is reached.

He added: "We confidently expect to have our view that the Act is valid upheld.

"We expect the case and any appeal to be dealt with quite quickly and no one will then have any reason for any doubt whatsoever or for believing that they might be justified in undertaking activity which is in fact illegal."

Mr Michael said he was also "relaxed" about delays to the implementation of the ban because the February 18 start was neither what the Government proposed or what the Commons voted for.

MPs voted for commencement from July 31, 2006, following ministerial concerns that the ban could lead to civil disorder in the run-up to a General Election if it is implemented next month.

A delay in the implementation of the hunting ban should be used to re-examine the issues surrounding animal welfare, Peter Luff said.

The Mid-Worcestershire MP asked the Rural Affairs Minister, Alun Michael, for talks with the Middle Way group on hunting, of which Mr Luff is joint chairman.

Mr Michael denied he had given a "hint of delay".

"I have simply acknowledged our understanding that an application for a delay in commencement may be made by the Countryside Alliance when it loses its case at the hearing of first instance."

The minister added it was important to recognise the legislation was now in place, but said he was promoting discussions with animal welfare organisations and hunts about horses and dogs that might be affected by the cessation of hunting.