EXPORT OF LIVE FARM ANIMALS

Early day motion 331, tabled 28 January 2000 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 217 members.

That this House notes with dismay that the number of lambs and sheep exported for slaughter abroad has increased significantly; is concerned that many of these animals are sent on appallingly long journeys to Italy, Greece and Spain, where often they are killed in abattoirs using cruel and illegal slaughter methods; notes that by the time the animals reach southern Europe many are suffering greatly due to overcrowding, the lack of water and proper ventilation on many vehicles, the extreme heat in summer and the sheer length of the journey; notes that the great majority of sheep exports from the UK are in meat form and believes that, with vigorous marketing on the continent, the whole of UK exports could be converted into a meat trade; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to help bring the cruel live animal export trade to an end, and to take the lead in persuading European Union partners to adopt a major change of policy whereby, throughout the EU, the long distance transport of live farm animals is replaced by a trade in meat and carcases.

Signatures by party: Labour 162, Liberal Democrat 25, Conservative 13, Labour/Co-operative 11, Independent Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UKUP 1, UUP 1, Unknown 1.