ANIMAL WELFARE

Early day motion 1669, tabled 15 September 2004 by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House notes, that over the past five years, it has found time to debate hunting with dogs on 10 separate occasions, usually in Government time and sometimes for whole sittings, while failing to find 10 minutes over the same period to debate the annual reports of the Animal Procedures Committee, which concerns the licensing of experiments on nearly three million animals a year; observes that, unlike foxes, these animals have no chance of escape; questions this priority in the use of parliamentary time to safeguard and promote the welfare of animals; and calls for a full animal debate on the committee's report in Government time.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 14, Labour 9, Conservative 3, DUP 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2.