LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT OF ANIMALS

Early day motion 1608, tabled 10 July 2002 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 125 members.

That this House notes that each year over two million farm animals are transported huge distances across Europe on journeys lasting 30 to 70 hours or more; welcomes the report adopted in November 2001 by the European Parliament which recommends that a maximum overall limit of eight hours should be placed on journeys to slaughter or for further fattening; notes that in a report on transport published in March the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare recommended that journeys should be kept as short as possible; and calls on her Majesty's Government to take the lead in pressing the United Kingdom's European Union partners to place a maximum limit of eight hours on the transport of farm animals to slaughter or for further fattening.

Signatures by party: Labour 89, Liberal Democrat 18, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 7, UUP 2.