ILLEGAL SLAUGHTER OF SONGBIRDS

Early day motion 1646, tabled 17 July 2002 by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House notes with concern the number of British songbirds being killed illegally in Cyprus after migrating for the winter months; further notes the alarming news that up to 800,000 birds, which amounts to almost half the breeding population of thrushes in Britain, are believed to have been killed in a single day; recognises that the birds are prized as a delicacy in Cypriot restaurants and that Cypriot laws allow the shooting of songbirds on Wednesdays and Sundays from November to February; objects to the illegal trapping and shooting of songbirds; and calls on the Government to work with the Cypriot authorities and the RSPB to stop the illegal slaughter of British songbirds.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 4, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.