YOUR readers may have noticed a rash of correspondence in these pages over the last few weeks on the subject of hunting with hounds.

To make matters clear once and for all, I trust what follows will be of interest.

Firstly, the RSPCA firmly believes that hunting wild animals with hounds is cruel. To pursue an animal for, in some cases, hours across the countryside, often leaving a trail of trespass, mutilated domestic pets and havoc in its wake, is unacceptable in a civilised society. Our view is supported by the findings of the independent inquiry into hunting, chaired by Lord Burns, which found that to chase and kill "seriously compromised the welfare" of the hunted animal.

Secondly, we do not and will never support one political party over another. Rather, we welcome any proposals to improve animal welfare by any party. This is true both at a national level and is covered by the rules governing our branches. We welcome the fact, for example, that Ruth Kelly has consistently voted against hunting in the same way we welcome Ann Widdicombe and Charles Kennedy's anti-hunt stance.

All the major political parties have some policies that the Society supports. Equally, they all have views with which we disagree and we continue to seek to change minds at all levels.

Thirdly, and following on from the point above, on the evidence of the letter from Mr Evans, our Branch Chairman for Bolton, we do not think that he has endorsed the Bolton West Conservative Party Candidate. Rather, his letter pointed out that the candidate supports RSPCA policies (in particular on hunting).

Lastly, the Countryside Alliance's contribution to this subject (BEN, April 23) was uninformed and inaccurate. They accuse us of advertising our support for the Labour Party in national press when they know this not to be true. We have never campaigned in support of the Labour Party. Mr Pilkington may wish to confirm this with the Charity Commission who, we are quite sure, would have rightly taken action against us if we had. To put it in the most simple of terms, the RSPCA is interested in changing laws to improve animal welfare. In order to change laws it is necessary to persuade politicians of all parties to listen, and, since 1824, that is precisely what we have done. We have campaigned against issues as diverse as unnecessary quarantine, cosmetics testing on animals, farm animal welfare, live animal transport, cock fighting, badger baiting, dog fighting, fur farming and performing animals -- to name but a few.

My message to Mr Pilkington is not to hold his breath if he thinks the RSPCA is going to keep quiet about animal cruelty. We will campaign against all forms of cruelty -- and that includes hunting.

Niall Duffy

Head of Public Affairs, RSPCA