n I HAVE been following the correspondence about fox hunting between Jon Burgess and Mrs Marion J Large (You Say, June 6).

John Burgess says the Lord Burns report examined all aspects of hunting in fine detail and concluded there was no case for a ban.

The terms of reference given to the Burns Inquiry was to report on the impact of any ban on hunting with dogs.The Home Secretary asked the committee to concentrate on the factual and analytical background to hunting.

Lord Burns, on page 7 of his report, said, and I quote: "We were not asked to recommend whether hunting should be banned. Nor were we asked to consider moral or ethical issues."

Most people, including MPs, object to hunting for sport on moral and ethical grounds. It is, therefore, disingenuous of Mr Burgess to claim that the Lord Burns report should be the arbiter.

JOHN PHELPS,

Exeter.