RESUMPTION OF LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS

Early day motion 795, tabled 4 February 2002 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 141 members.

That this House is concerned that following the end of foot and mouth disease, many farmers and traders wish to resume the export of live lambs and sheep for slaughter abroad; notes that prior to the FMD epidemic, the UK was exporting around 800,000 sheep a year through Dover to continental abattoirs, with many of the animals being sent all the way to Italy, Greece and Spain; is concerned that the animals suffer greatly during the long journeys to southern Europe, where all too often they are killed in abattoirs which use illegal slaughter methods; notes that around three-quarters of UK sheep exports are in meat form and accordingly urges sheep farmers not to re-start the live export trade but instead, through vigorous marketing on the continent, to convert the whole of UK sheep exports into a meat trade; and urges Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to ensure that the cruel live export trade does not resume, but it it does resume, to endeavour to bring it to an end.

Signatures by party: Labour 103, Liberal Democrat 19, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 7, UUP 2, Scottish National Party 1.