PROTECTION OF BADGERS

Early day motion 371, tabled 7 November 2001 by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 189 members.

That this House notes that the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 provides badgers with a high level of legislative protection; is concerned that badgers continue to be persecuted; believes that this level of persecution could be reduced if all police forces were to have at least one full-time Wildlife Liaison Officer; notes that existing WLOs have insufficient financial or time resources allocated to their wildlife duties and so cannot always direct adequate attention to this work; and calls for the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 to be amended to make badger cruelty a recordable crime worthy of police time and money.

Signatures by party: Labour 120, Liberal Democrat 31, Conservative 16, Labour/Co-operative 12, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, Independent 1, UUP 1.