FIESTA OF VILLANUEVA DE LA VERA

Early day motion 1081, tabled 28 April 2004 by Eric Martlew (Labour). Signed by 44 members.

That this House is horrified to learn that the fiesta of Villanueva de la Vera still continues on Shrove Tuesday each year, in which a donkey is dragged around the streets of the village and is cruelly treated by the drunken villagers; urges the Spanish authorities to enforce the legislation passed in 2003 to protect defenceless animals from cruelty during fiestas in the regions of Extramadura and Andalusia; welcomes the work of the donkey sanctuary in the village to try to stop this cruelty; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to encourage the new Spanish Government to ensure that the law is enforced.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 2.