Following the cessation of hunting from February 2001  to December 2001 due to foot and mouth disease, farmers across the UK reported a noticeable increase in fox numbers and resultant predation. In a letter to the Federation of Welsh Packs, the Farmers Union of Wales said "All counties in Wales have reported an increase in fox numbers and predation  since the Hunting Authorities commenced their voluntary ban on 22 February 2001. The Union's County Branches are receiving an increasing number of calls from farmers concerned at the effects of a protracted ban on fox control during the autumn period." During World War 2 there was much less Hunting. The fox population soared and  predation of lambs, piglets, chickens etc. became intolerable. The Government  encouraged shooting to bring down numbers. Farmers took up their shotguns and "Fox destruction clubs" were formed.   After a ban would the number of foxes settle at a number acceptable to farmers etc.?    The Antis claim that it would. BUT we know from actual relevant experience that it increases and then settles at a much higher level.   The experiences after the '39-'45 War in the UK and more recently in Holland. Elliott Morley MP (a Minister covering Animal Welfare) recognises that foxes  need controlling.  The Government Bill (overruled by The Commons to become a Ban) reluctantly acknowledged that control of numbers of foxes is necessary: however, they state that this applies in only a few areas and their bill would have given this decision to a National Registrar. But a risk of predation exists throughout most of the UK and, whatever the Government rules, farmers/landowners/shoots/sanctuaries will seldom be prepared to accept destruction of their stock without attempting to reduce their losses by culling foxes. The Commons (Banks Bill) rules that culling must be achieved by methods it deems, with no substantiated evidence, to be less cruel than Foxhunting.