EXPORT OF LIVE FARM ANIMALS

Early day motion 271, tabled 3 December 2002 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 120 members.

That this House notes that the export of live sheep and lambs for slaughter on the continent resumed in July 2002 after the foot and mouth crisis; is alarmed that thousands of animals are now being shipped out through the Port of Dover every week; is concerned that many of these animals are sent on journeys of 50 hours or more to southern Europe, during which many suffer greatly due to factors such as overcrowding, lack of water and proper ventilation on some vehicles, extreme heat in summer and the sheer length of the journeys; believes that there is an economically viable future for UK sheep farmers without live exports through an increase in meat exports and an increase in the sale to UK consumers of the light lambs which are traditionally exported live; urges UK supermarkets to pay a fair price to UK farmers for these light lambs; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to bring the export of live farm animals to an end.

Signatures by party: Labour 92, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour/Co-operative 7, Conservative 4, UUP 2.