WWF/TRAFFIC WILDLIFE TRADE CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 862, tabled 14 February 2002 by Lord Mann (Labour). Signed by 344 members.

That this House condemns the illegal trade in endangered species which is estimated to be worth billions of pounds annually; notes that this illegal trade is responsible for driving certain species towards extinction; further notes that the United Kingdom is a major centre for the trade in illegal wildlife products; strongly supports WWF and TRAFFIC's Wildlife Trade Campaign which calls for higher penalties and appropriate sentences to effectively deter those involved in the illegal trade in wildlife; and calls upon the Government to increase the maximum sentence under COTES Enforcement Regulations from two to five years to make this an arrestable offence and to commit to ask for guidelines to be issued to magistrates and judges on wildlife crime.

Signatures by party: Labour 204, Conservative 60, Liberal Democrat 50, Labour/Co-operative 18, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.