PROTECTION OF BADGERS

Early day motion 911, tabled 18 March 2003 by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 122 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 wildlife liaison officers 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 76, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 10, Labour/Co-operative 7, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.