FUR FARMING

Early day motion 664, tabled 19 April 2000 by Lord Stratford (Labour). Signed by 107 members.

That this House welcomes the inclusion of a prohibition on fur farming in the Queen's Speech in November 1999; condemns those honourable Members who on 19th January 2000 employed tactics to avoid the Second Reading of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill; is dismayed that Her Majesty's Government has still not re-scheduled a Second Reading for the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill; notes that a report by scientists from Cambridge University shows that in natural conditions mink travel and forage over distances of at least one to three kilometres and climb, swim and dive; notes that all these natural behaviours are frustrated in the small, barren cages of mink farms; and urges Her Majesty's Government to honour its pre-election promise to prohibit fur farming by creating sufficient parliamentary time to ensure the passage of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill.

Signatures by party: Labour 82, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 1.