ILLEGAL LOGGING

Early day motion 132, tabled 16 November 2006 by Joan Walley (Labour). Signed by 364 members.

That this House notes the problem of illegal logging, which is valued at 10 to 15 billion euros per year, costing producer countries billions in lost revenue, causes widespread environmental damage and loss of biodiversity, and increases carbon emissions; notes research by WWF which estimates that the EU is responsible for at least three billion euros of this and that the UK imports over 70 per cent. of its timber and is one of the largest importers of illegal timber within the EU; believes that the current EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action Plan is inadequate, as it does not prevent illegal imports entering the EU via third countries such as China; supports the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee for legislation to make it illegal to import illegal timber into the EU; further notes that Chatham House has reported that such legislation is WTO compliant; and, therefore, calls on the Government fully to support moves to introduce this legislation as a matter of urgency.

Signatures by party: Labour 157, Conservative 135, Liberal Democrat 53, Scottish National Party 5, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, Independent Labour 1, UUP 1.