VIVA APPEAL TO END POLISH HORSE MEAT TRADE

Early day motion 255, tabled 2 December 2002 by Mark Tami (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House notes that tens of thousands of live horses are exported every year from Poland to Italy under obscenely cruel conditions and that journeys can last five days and many of the animals will have no rest, food or water on a journey that crosses the borders of six countries; further notes that death en-route is commonplace; welcomes the Viva campaign to expose and stop this inhumane practice; recognises the work Viva has done in revealing the true plight of Poland's meat horses and lobbying the Polish Government; further notes that with Poland set to join the EU it is now time to put pressure on the Polish Government to outlaw the trade; and calls on the United Kingdom Government to support Viva's campaign and work with its foreign counterparts to bring an end to this brutal custom.

Signatures by party: Labour 39, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 4, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 1.