I AM disappointed and saddened to read in the Citizen, October 15, 2004, that Josephine Harwood accused me of 'choosing not to vote' on the Hunting Bill, without making any effort to find out the facts, especially as she knows my overwhelming opposition to the practice.

Ms Harwood asks me through your letters page why I did not vote when I have, in fact, written to her personally in my letter to her dated September 27, 2004 to explain exactly why I was unable to be in the House of Common on that date.

As a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, I and my colleagues had some months ago agreed to undertake an inquiry into the Child Support Agency, an issue of very real concern to many of my constituents.

The announcement of the hunting debate was made with only six days notice and it was far too late to chance the committee's arrangement. We were not at Westminster on Wednesday, September 15 and so I was unable to vote on the Hunting Bill.

I hope I do not have to justify to your readers that the needs of children are just as important as the needs of animals.

I shall continue to campaign strongly to end the ghastly, cruel and unjustifiable activity of hunting with hounds since I think it unlikely that the House of Lords will simply accept the overwhelming will of both the House of Commons and the people of this country.

Joan Humble MP

Blackpool North &

Fleetwood Constituency