CANADIAN SEAL HUNT

Early day motion 83, tabled 15 November 2006 by Elliot Morley (Labour). Signed by 161 members.

That this House notes with grave concern the Canadian seal hunt; deplores the killing of over 325,000 seals, mostly under three months old, for their fur during last season alone; notes the growing international condemnation of the Canadian seal slaughter and is saddened by the damage the slaughter is doing to Canada's international reputation; congratulates the German Parliament on the recent unanimous vote to ban the import of seal products, eliminating the German market from the commercial seal trade in line with Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Mexico and the United States, all of whom have banned the import of seal products; further notes that a record 425 MEPs supported Written Declaration 0038/2006, calling on the European Commission to draft a regulation to ban the import, export and sale of all harp and hooded seal products within the EU; and calls on the Government to prohibit the import of all seal products into the United Kingdom and to convey its support for the European initiatives.

Signatures by party: Labour 106, Liberal Democrat 39, Conservative 9, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.