THE Government does not consider overturning the controversial ban on fox hunting a priority, and a parliamentary vote is "unlikely" this year, the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has said.

Ms Spelman insisted there would be a review of the controversial Hunting Act if the parliamentary timetable permits.

She said: "It's in our business plan. It's exactly what is stated in the coalition agreement. There will be a motion on a free vote on the Hunting Act at some point in this Parliament.

"But I can't say exactly when. We have an awful lot of things we need to get through as a matter of priority, connected with tackling the deficit and clearing up the mess we have inherited from Labour. It's got to take its place in the queue of things we need to achieve."

She added she thought it unlikely the vote would take place this year.

"I need to get my grocery adjudicator Bill through first, and I'm asking the Leader of the House for a slot. I had to make some choices about what I urgently need legislative time for."

David Cameron, who is said to have taken part in hunts on Exmoor, has condemned the 2005 ban on hunting with dogs as a "mistake".

But after the Tory party joined forces with the Liberal Democrats the commitment was watered down.