MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF CCTV IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Early day motion 153, tabled 18 June 2015 by Grahame Morris (Labour). Signed by 142 members.

That this House calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals for the mandatory installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) in UK slaughterhouses with independent monitoring of the footage; notes that a 2014 YouGov poll found that, of those who expressed a view, 87 per cent support mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses; expresses concern that nine of the 10 randomly chosen slaughterhouses secretly filmed by Animal Aid have breached animal welfare laws; believes that the introduction of compulsory CCTV in UK slaughterhouses will increase animal protection and allow those caught on film breaking the law to be prosecuted; furthermore thanks the supermarkets for already insisting on CCTV in their slaughterhouse suppliers and welcomes the support of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Farm Animal Welfare Committee for the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses as a useful monitoring tool; further notes that plant operators who operate CCTV are keen to demonstrate to FSA officials the high standard to which their operatives work; and further believes other UK slaughterhouses should follow this best practice to maintain the UK's position as a world leader on animal welfare standards.

Signatures by party: Labour 76, Scottish National Party 32, Conservative 11, DUP 6, Labour/Co-operative 6, Liberal Democrat 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Green 1, Independent 1.