[{"topic":"Animals","id":"43728","proposer":"10220","edm":"2631","session":"2010-12","title":"Unnecessary Euthanasia Of Military Horses","text":"That this House notes that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) euthanised 28 of its horses in 2011, including four for having a bad temperament; expresses concern that euthanasia is being too readily used by the MoD on its horses; acknowledges HorseWorld's concern and agrees with it that working military horses must only be euthanised as a last resort; and urges the MoD to stick to its own commitments to protect working military animals' welfare as much as possible and to initiate stricter procedures to ensure that horses are only put to sleep whenever it is absolutely necessary.","date":"2012-01-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"43339","proposer":"11963","edm":"2256","session":"2010-12","title":"Rhino Poaching","text":"That this House expresses concern at the continuing global practice of rhino poaching by crime syndicates and at the almost daily killing of these animals; notes that this practice is particularly prevalent in South Africa and Zimbabwe; further notes that almost 200 of these highly endangered animals were killed in South Africa alone in the first half of 2011 and killings this year are expected to exceed the 2010 figure of 333; expresses deep concern at the suffering faced by the animals during hunts by poachers; further notes that this poaching is fuelled by demand for rhino horn in traditional medicine markets in Asia; and calls on the Government to work with Asian and African nations to tackle this crime and enforce a global ban on rhino horn use in medicines.","date":"2011-10-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"43342","proposer":"11199","edm":"2259","session":"2010-12","title":"Retired Greyhounds","text":"That this House recognises and applauds the work of the Retired Greyhound Trust, its branches and volunteers to find loving homes for greyhounds once their racing days are over; supports its work to promote greyhounds as pets; notes that the charity has now found more that 50,000 homes for greyhounds since it was established in 1976 and is now consistently rehoming more than 4,000 greyhounds a year; and acknowledges the vitalfinancial contribution to its work made by a large number of supporters and donors including many bookmakers via the British Greyhound Racing Fund.","date":"2011-10-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"42698","proposer":"11892","edm":"1647","session":"2010-12","title":"Dogs Bill","text":"That this House notes the passing of the Dogs (Amendment) Bill by the Northern Ireland Assembly and believes that clauses referring to compulsory microchipping and to dog licensing, the creation of an offence of setting of a dog on a person or other domesticated animal and increased fines should be incorporated into the Dog Control Bill when considered by this House.","date":"2011-03-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"42298","proposer":"11494","edm":"1281","session":"2010-12","title":"Puppy Farms And Animal Welfare","text":"That this House notes public concern regarding puppy farms producing animals in excess of demand; is concerned that this leads to damage to the welfare and health of dogs; further notes an upward trend in abandoned dogs and in the number of dogs being advertised in the media; is concerned that this leads to serious repercussions for dog and animal welfare shelters that deal with unwanted animals; and urges the Government to improve regulations and advertising criteria at breeding establishments and to encourage local authorities to carry out more stringent inspections to tackle this issue at source.","date":"2011-01-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"41307","proposer":"11843","edm":"367","session":"2010-12","title":"Sustainable Livestock Farming And Food Production","text":"That this House notes that global livestock and animal feed production is currently the most significant worldwide cause of biodiversity loss, with the large-scale conversion of forests and other valuable habitats to produce animal feeds a cause of particular concern; further notes that the sector contributes 18 per cent. of global greenhouse gas emissions and also has impacts on small farms and communities in developing countries who are often forced off their land; congratulates the pioneering farmers in the UK who produce livestock and dairy products using sustainably-produced home-grown feed crops and wildlife-rich pasture, which reduces these damaging impacts and has employment, landscape and biodiversity benefits for the UK, but recognises that many British farmers find current policies and market structures a barrier; and so welcomes the Sustainable Livestock Bill which calls on the Government to produce a strategy that assesses the impacts the livestock sector has on the environment, sets out the policy changes needed to reduce them, ensures problems are not simply moved overseas, and supports a sustainable and thriving UK farming industry.","date":"2010-06-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"41297","proposer":"11199","edm":"357","session":"2010-12","title":"Compulsory Microchipping Of Dogs","text":"That this House recognises that the introduction of a compulsory microchipping scheme for dogs would have a significant and positive welfare impact, including the return of stray and stolen dogs to their owners and the improved traceability of puppy-farmed dogs; congratulates Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Blue Cross, National Office of Animal Health and the British Veterinary Association on their efforts to raise public awareness of microchipping and their campaigning for a mandatory scheme; acknowledges that microchipping provides a lifetime of security for a one-off payment; agrees that a compulsory microchipping scheme is currently the preferred alternative to a dog licensing scheme which would potentially create unnecessary bureaucracy and expense for local authorities and which will not represent a barrier to dog ownership for vulnerable groups.","date":"2010-06-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"40830","proposer":"10439","edm":"1184","session":"2009-10","title":"Electronic Identification Of Sheep And Goats","text":"That this House welcomes the call made by the European Parliament's Agricultural Committee for an amnesty of three years on cross-compliance penalties relating to electronic identification of sheep and goats; notes that the committee made this call because this is a new and complex technology which will require some time for farmers to become accustomed to and for the systems to be road-tested; believes that such an amnesty would remove the current threat of high fines which Scottish farmers and crofters face as they struggle to cope with technology which has been shown to be far from perfect; and calls on the Government to seek the agreement of the European Commission for the early introduction of such an amnesty in the UK.","date":"2010-03-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"40027","proposer":"11814","edm":"457","session":"2009-10","title":"Dog Control Legislation","text":"That this House recognises that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not working; notes with alarm that 5,221 victims needed hospital treatment last year as a result of dog attacks; further notes that 6,000 postal workers were attacked last year while going about their duty, and that five children have been killed in the last three years by dog attacks; considers that fresh legislation is needed to tackle the increasing use of dogs as weapons by gang members; believes that new dog control legislation is also required which puts the emphasis on the owner, not the dog or the breed, and which allows for early intervention by the police in order to prevent out of control dogs endangering people and animals alike, making use of devices such as control notices and dog control orders; further recognises that this approach should involve giving police the powers they need to take stringent action against the very worst cases of irresponsible dog ownership, including fines, imprisonment and the `three Ds' of disqualification orders, deprivation orders and destruction orders; further believes that the ability to prosecute the owners of dogs who attack and cause serious injury should be extended to cover attacks on private property, with appropriate protection for dog owners against attacks on trespassers and burglars; further recognises that legislation should be accompanied by increased resources for dog ownership education in order to increase responsible dog ownership; and calls on the Government to deal with this as a priority and for all political parties to make a manifesto commitment to dealing with this problem.","date":"2009-12-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"39796","proposer":"10410","edm":"253","session":"2009-10","title":"Labelling Of Products Made From Animal Fur","text":"That this House notes that recent advances in the quality and look of fake fur make it difficult for many consumers to tell the difference between items made with fake fur and those made with real fur; further notes that there is now evidence that consumers are confused and some may be purchasing items made or trimmed with real fur believing the fur to be fake; further notes that some people are allergic to real fur; further notes that a law has been introduced in the states of New York, Delaware and New Jersey requiring all real fur and fur-trimmed clothing to carry a label; and calls on the Government to introduce, as soon as possible and as a measure to protect consumers, legislative proposals for a labelling order requiring all other real fur on sale to carry a label that clearly states that the item is made using real animal fur, whether or not it has been dyed and the country of origin of the fur.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"38658","proposer":"11494","edm":"1487","session":"2008-09","title":"Mandatory Microchipping Of Dogs","text":"That this House is concerned that over 97,000 dogs are picked up as strays by local authorities annually; congratulates Speaking Out for Animals, the animal action club at Thorpe House School, Norwich for campaigning hard to promote the mandatory microchipping of dogs as a means of reducing the huge numbers of strays and for its work to promote responsible pet ownership; commends the Dogs Trust, RSPCA and other animal charities for microchipping all dogs at point of adoption; believes that microchipping should be compulsory for all dogs at the point of sale; and urges the Government to introduce legislation on the mandatory microchipping of dogs.","date":"2009-05-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"38222","proposer":"11656","edm":"1111","session":"2008-09","title":"Peregrine Falcons At The Palace Of Westminster","text":"That this House welcomes the arrival of two peregrine falcons to the Palace of Westminster; notes that peregrine falcons are a protected species; further notes that peregrines breed in late March and April and congratulates the Palace authorities and Natural England on providing a nesting box for the pair; and wishes these two new residents all the best in their new home and hopes there will soon be a clutch of eggs.","date":"2009-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"37241","proposer":"11199","edm":"243","session":"2008-09","title":"Dogs In China","text":"That this House welcomes the positive work for companion animals carried out by the Animals Asia Foundation in China; recognises that their programmes aim to work in partnership with the Chinese government to end the confiscation of dogs within Beijing and the slaughter of thousands of dogs across many Chinese provinces; notes that high volume killing campaigns have proven to be an ineffective measure to control populations of stray dogs and prevent rabies; congratulates the Animals Asia Foundation on its work with the Nanjing authorities to adopt compassionate and long-term solutions through placing stray dogs into the custody of a local animal shelter; encourages the Chinese government to adopt cost-effective animal birth control programmes, which have been proven to reduce the number of stray animals and the incidence of rabies; further encourages the continuation of their positive public education programmes; and requests that confiscated dogs in Beijing are returned to their owners and the offer of free humane muzzles for large dogs by the Animals Asia Foundation is accepted without delay, whilst more constructive and compassionate dog management regulations are discussed and implemented for the benefit of both people and dogs in the community.","date":"2008-12-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"37244","proposer":"11199","edm":"246","session":"2008-09","title":"Vet Microchipping","text":"That this House strongly recommends the use of microchips as the preferred means of permanent identification for domestic pets; acknowledges that the microchip system can only be fully effective if animals are scanned regularly, which is particularly the case for pets that have been stolen and sold on; commends and fully supports the work of Vets Get Scanning, its founder Debbie Matthews and patron Bruce Forsyth CBE, who have campaigned tirelessly in encouraging all veterinary practices to routinely scan all new patients and retrieved and rescued animals to ensure that no chip remains undetected and that known chips remain functional; and further endorses the work of the Microchip Advisory Group and also Petlog on their success in helping to return hundreds of lost and stolen dogs and cats to their rightful owners.","date":"2008-12-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"37212","proposer":"11324","edm":"218","session":"2008-09","title":"Electronic Identification Devices For Sheep (No. 2)","text":"That this House recognises the economic and financial difficulties the sheep industry in the UK is facing; considers that sheep farming is a very important part of the social, environmental and economic fabric of rural areas of the UK; notes that the European Commission's proposals for the introduction of electronic identification devices for sheep in the UK is untimely; and further notes that the technology required for its successful operation is not fully developed, the equipment is costly and that there remain insurmountable, practical animal husbandry barriers to its successful introduction and operation in the UK and other EU member states.","date":"2008-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"37118","proposer":"10258","edm":"126","session":"2008-09","title":"Local Authorities And Micro-Chipped Animals","text":"That this House calls for local authorities to introduce routine scanning of domestic animals including cats and dogs killed on roads; recognises the upset caused to families, particularly those with children when a pet goes missing; and seeks to ensure that micro-chipped pets are reported to their owners.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"37072","proposer":"10470","edm":"80","session":"2008-09","title":"Electronic Identification Of Sheep","text":"That this House recognises that the UK is the largest producer of sheepmeat within the EU; appreciates that most sheep production is in upland areas where there are few alternative enterprises; notes that the requirement for compulsory electronic identification (EID) of all sheep under EU Directive 21\/2004 may be possible for small lowland flocks but is in practice unachievable in extensive large upland flocks which rely on batch movement; believes that this requirement will cause another extra cost imposition on all producers which will make an already marginal enterprise uneconomic; does not see any benefit to food safety or disease control from such a measure; and calls upon the Government to insist on a derogation to make EID voluntary within the UK.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36749","proposer":"11199","edm":"2368","session":"2007-08","title":"HORSEMAN'S SUNDAY, HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER","text":"That this House congratulates the Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Society for re-establishing the traditional English ceremony of Horseman's Sunday held at St John The Evangelist Church, Havering Village Green, Romford, on Sunday 12th October; notes with pride that this was the first such event since the early 1970s; commends the organisers for this momentous achievement in re-creating a special day for horses and their riders to attend an open air service of thanksgiving, to be presented with commemorative rosettes and receive a blessing; and believes that Horseman's Sunday is a joyous event, bringing the entire community together, fostering tradition and encouraging respect for the great British horse, a creature that has been an inspiration and help to man throughout the ages.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36492","proposer":"10394","edm":"1917A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Tesco Supermarkets And Chicken Welfare","text":"after `marque', insert `, and not to purchase from anywhere else in the world meat produced to lesser welfare standards.'.","date":"2008-07-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36467","proposer":"10295","edm":"2120","session":"2007-08","title":"CHINA'S DOG MEAT POLICY","text":"That this House congratulates the Chinese government on its decision to ban the sale and consumption of dog meat during the Olympic Games this summer; applauds China's willingness to listen to the wishes of the international community; calls on the Chinese government to extend its temporary policy to become a permanent change to the country's approach to animal welfare; and asks the Chinese government to acknowledge the British attitude to dog ownership by recognising that a dog is for life, not just for the Olympics.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36437","proposer":"10431","edm":"2090","session":"2007-08","title":"Bovine Tuberculosis And Badger Culling","text":"That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for his principled stand in rejecting calls for a widespread cull of badgers; notes that the evidence shows that such a cull would do nothing to help eradicate bovine tuberculosis and would be likely to make matters worse; considers that he is right to take his decision in accordance with science; and hopes that the Minister for Rural Affairs in the National Assembly for Wales will set aside her intention to allow a cull, and return to an evidence-based approach.","date":"2008-07-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36394","proposer":"11245","edm":"2052","session":"2007-08","title":"Welfare Of Farmed Puppies","text":"That this House is concerned by reports of the harm caused by puppy trafficking; congratulates The Kennel Club on its exposure of this problem and its enforcement of strict rules on breeders in the UK; welcomes the caring approach to puppy farming by responsible UK breeders and notes the excellent work undertaken on this issue by the RSPCA, particularly in respect of puppies imported, often from Eire, in a poor state of health and misdescribed in advertisements; and calls on the Government to review policy in this area in order to improve the welfare of farmed puppies and to protect the interests of future puppy owners.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36402","proposer":"11199","edm":"2060","session":"2007-08","title":"Vet Microchipping","text":"That this House strongly encourages the use of microchips as the preferred means of permanent identification for domestic pets; acknowledges that the microchip system can only be fully effective if animals are scanned regularly, which is particularly the case for pets that have been stolen and sold on; commends and fully supports the work of Vets Get Scanning, its founder Debbie Matthews and patron Bruce Forsyth CBE, who have campaigned tirelessly in encouraging all veterinary practices to scan routinely all new patients and retrieved and rescued animals to ensure that no chip remains undetected and that known chips remain functional; and endorses the work of the Microchip Advisory Group and Petlog on their success in helping to return hundreds of lost and stolen dogs and cats to their rightful owners.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36413","proposer":"10295","edm":"2072","session":"2007-08","title":"Eu And Fur Trade","text":"That this House congratulates the European Parliament proposition to ban cat and dog fur imports; believes that the wider consequences of the ban would be positive, including the impact on the Chinese fur business and the prevention of thousands of animals suffering; and approves the wider message to fur exporting countries that the European Union is united in action to improve international animal welfare.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36414","proposer":"10295","edm":"2073","session":"2007-08","title":"China And Ivory Licences","text":"That this House notes with urgent concern the Government's decision to approve China's application to legalise purchasing of ivory stockpiles from Africa; is concerned that the licence will provide myriad opportunities for illicit ivory to be laundered into legal stock and will increase the already tragic number of 20,000 elephants being illegally killed across the African continent; and condemns the decision to bow to political pressure regarding relations with China rather than using Great Britain's position as European representative on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) committee to make a stand for positive international wildlife protection.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36420","proposer":"10295","edm":"2079","session":"2007-08","title":"Local Authorities And Micro-Chipped Animals","text":"That this House calls for local authorities to introduce routine scanning of domestic animals including cats and dogs killed on roads; recognises the upset caused to families, particularly those with children when a pet goes missing; and seeks to ensure that micro-chipped pets are reported to their owners.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36351","proposer":"11923","edm":"2014","session":"2007-08","title":"Bluetongue Protection Zone","text":"That this House expresses concern that as of the beginning of July, Cumbria and other counties in the north of England have not been placed in the bluetongue protection zone or received bluetongue vaccine; is particularly concerned about the effect that late administration of the vaccine may have on the ability of livestock farmers in Cumbria to move their animals to sale later in the summer, given that this would cause enormous hardship for farming communities; and calls on the Government to ensure that animals in Cumbria and other affected counties are vaccinated as a matter of urgency.","date":"2008-07-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36238","proposer":"11995","edm":"1916","session":"2007-08","title":"Scottish Bee Health","text":"That this House notes with concern the threat to the UK bee population, valued commercially at approximately \u00c2\u00a3165 million by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, posed by an increase in reported cases of colony collapse disorder and resistance to the chemical treatment for the Varroa destructor mite; further notes that Scottish bee farms, which run 25 per cent. of the UK's commercial hives, are particularly vulnerable as the alternative treatment for the Varroa mite requires an ambient temperature of over 15 degrees centigrade; observes that the limited diagnostic and follow-up service for bee health matters in Scotland comprises only four bee inspectors; expresses concern that the budget for commissioned bee health research and development is lower in real terms now than in 2001 despite the risk to the bee industry increasing; and welcomes the support of the Scottish Beekeepers Association and Bee Farmers Association for greater funding for research into ways of combating the threats to Scottish hives.","date":"2008-06-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36239","proposer":"10521","edm":"1917","session":"2007-08","title":"Tesco Supermarkets And Chicken Welfare","text":"That this House deplores the action of institutional shareholders of Tesco plc in voting against a resolution to ensure that chicken rearing standards are improved; congratulates TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for his campaign which sought to persuade Britain's largest food retailer to upgrade its minimum conditions to the RSPCA's `Freedom Food' marque; urges all other food retailers to adopt these minimum conditions and inform customers that they have done so; urges people in the meantime to boycott the purchase of chickens at Tesco stores; and calls on the Government to make it a requirement for all those involved in chicken rearing to meet the RSPCA's minimum conditions.","date":"2008-06-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36221","proposer":"10597","edm":"1900","session":"2007-08","title":"Animals Act 1971 (Amendment) Bill","text":"That this House recognises the support both within and without Parliament for the Animals Act (Amendment) Bill brought forward by the hon. Member for Preseli, Pembrokeshire; notes the unfairness resulting from the House of Lords' decision in the case of Mirvahedy versus Henley (2003) under which the keepers of animals can be held liable for incidents they could not have anticipated; supports the Bill's purpose to ensure the Animals Act 1971 adequately reflects Parliament's original intention; and calls on the Government to extend the scope of the draft Marine Bill to include the provisions of the Animals Act 1971 (Amendment) Bill.","date":"2008-06-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"36144","proposer":"11817","edm":"1836","session":"2007-08","title":"Bovine Tuberculosis In France And The UK","text":"That this House sincerely congratulates the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fish for almost totally eradicating bovine tuberculosis in France; sadly reflects on the British Government's total failure in dealing with the crisis of bovine tuberculosis in the UK; and urges the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to meet his French counterpart as soon as possible to learn from French experience.","date":"2008-06-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35941","proposer":"11921","edm":"1659","session":"2007-08","title":"Pigeon Racing","text":"That this House recognises the popularity of pigeon racing as a hobby across the country; notes that tens of thousands of people actively enjoy the sport in the UK, with the Royal Pigeon Racing Association alone having 37,000 members; further notes that thousands of jobs are dependent on the sport throughout the country and that enthusiasts raise very significant sums for a wide number of charities every year; is concerned that restrictions placed on pigeon racing during avian flu outbreaks both at home and abroad have a devastating effect upon the sport and its associated industries; welcomes the announcement of a new veterinary risk assessment by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) into pigeon racing and avian flu; and hopes that DEFRA may be able to reconsider some of the more disproportionate regulations currently in place on pigeon racing during avian flu outbreaks.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35908","proposer":"10097","edm":"1627","session":"2007-08","title":"Coastal Access For Dogs","text":"That this House believes the proposed Marine Bill should increase access to the English and Welsh coasts for dogs and responsible dog owners along with other land users; appreciates the considerable health benefits that regularly walking a dog can bring; recognises that dog owners have a legal responsibility to provide their dogs with adequate exercise; and notes the environmental benefits of dog owners being able to access land within their local areas, without having to drive elsewhere.","date":"2008-05-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35911","proposer":"11494","edm":"1630","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Welfare In China","text":"That this House is appalled by the treatment of animals in China, which includes live feeding and performance animals at zoos, organised horse fighting and the mass slaughter of companion animals; notes with deep concern that there are no animal welfare laws in place for the purpose of protecting China's domestic, farmed and captive animals; recognises the unique diplomatic opportunity presented by China's hosting of the Olympic Games in August which will include a meeting between His Excellency Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, and the Prime Minister; and urges the Prime Minister, in his discussions with the Chinese President, to raise the issue of animal welfare standards.","date":"2008-05-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35859","proposer":"10295","edm":"1582","session":"2007-08","title":"Polar Bears","text":"That this House notes the decision by the United States to list the polar bear as an endangered species; expresses alarm at predictions that two-thirds of the polar bear population of 25,000 could disappear by 2050; recognises that this threat is a direct result of the Arctic sea ice habitat melting due to climate change; and urges the United States administration to introduce real environmental reforms which will help reduce carbon emissions and limit the damage caused by climate change.","date":"2008-05-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35865","proposer":"10258","edm":"1588","session":"2007-08","title":"Pandas From China","text":"That this House expresses its concern at the proposal by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to lease two giant pandas from a research centre in China for exhibition and captive breeding at Edinburgh Zoo; considers that there are serious animal welfare problems attached to the keeping of giant pandas in zoos; notes that captive breeding of giant pandas has resulted in no successful reintroduction to the wild; believes that the best way to conserve the giant panda population is to support in situ projects such as panda reserves and habitat conservation; urges the RZSS to reconsider this plan; and requests the Scottish and UK Governments not to become involved in using live animals as currency in the course of diplomatic exchange.","date":"2008-05-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35732","proposer":"10421","edm":"1467","session":"2007-08","title":"Universal Declaration On Animal Welfare","text":"That this House supports the development of the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, an effort led by a number of world governments, supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and underpinned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Compassion in World Farming in the UK, and by hundreds more animal welfare organisations worldwide; and calls upon the Government to give its full and publicly-stated support for this initiative, including active support within the European Union and the United Nations.","date":"2008-04-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35706","proposer":"10521","edm":"1445","session":"2007-08","title":"Dragonflies","text":"That this House registers its deep concern at the serious threat to dragonflies as a result of changes in farming techniques and climate change, with some species facing extinction; notes that a third of Great Britain's 39 species of dragonfly and the closely related damselfly are declining; welcomes the launch by the British Dragonfly Society of a five-year campaign to protect the creatures and track their movements, including the establishment of a dragonfly atlas; and calls on the Government to promote cross-departmental policies to assist the British Dragonfly Society in its objectives of safeguarding the nation's dragonflies.","date":"2008-04-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35707","proposer":"10521","edm":"1446","session":"2007-08","title":"Butterflies","text":"That this House registers its deep concern at the decline in the butterfly population, with numbers reported by the charity Butterfly Conservation to be at their lowest for 25 years, with the small tortoiseshell showing the biggest decline of 81 per cent; congratulates the thousands of volunteers who each year provide information for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme operated by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; welcomes the comments of Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, who is promoting an appeal to raise funds for the charity's Stop Extinction Appeal; and calls on the Government to promote cross-departmental policies to assist in safeguarding Britain's butterflies.","date":"2008-04-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35708","proposer":"11245","edm":"1401A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Ivory Trade","text":"leave out from `poaching;' to `any' in line 13 and insert `and calls upon the Government to use all possible means to oppose.'.","date":"2008-04-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35651","proposer":"10097","edm":"1401","session":"2007-08","title":"Ivory Trade","text":"That this House is dismayed that 20,000 elephants a year are still being slaughtered to supply the illegal ivory trade; notes with concern that China remains the major destination for illicit ivory; further notes that Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 African elephant range states; is aware that China may request to buy ivory stockpiles at the forthcoming Standing Committee meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in July; recognises the commendable progress China has made in recent years to improve illegal wildlife trade enforcement; is concerned, however, that ivory market controls in China remain insufficient to prevent continued illegal trade in ivory; is further concerned that any sale of stockpiled ivory to China may provide a smokescreen for further illegal ivory to be laundered into the system creating an incentive for more elephant poaching; welcomes the Government's role as a European Union representative on the CITES Standing Committee; and calls upon the Government to use that position to bring together EU partners in opposition to any attempt by China to buy ivory stockpiles.","date":"2008-04-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35537","proposer":"10285","edm":"1301","session":"2007-08","title":"Canadian Seal Hunt","text":"That this House condemns the cruelty of the Canadian seal hunt; notes that over 1.5 million seal pups have been bludgeoned or shot to death since 2003; notes with concern that the hunt is subsidised and protected by the Canadian government; further notes that regulations to curb the suffering of these creatures are unenforceable; embraces the UK and EU ban on imports of harp and hooded seal products; and urges the Government to take a stand against senseless violence against seal pups.","date":"2008-04-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35514","proposer":"10258","edm":"1279","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Testing Of Cosmetics","text":"That this House believes, in common with the majority of the British public, that it is morally unacceptable that animals should suffer merely because companies choose to develop new cosmetic products; applauds Uncaged's Boycott Procter and Gamble campaign as a vital means of relaying public concern to companies who perform toxicity tests on animals for cosmetics products; supports the transparent and thorough implementation of the animal testing and marketing bans in the Council Directive 76\/768 relating to cosmetic products; calls on the Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to ensure the disclosure of relevant non confidential data in product information relating to animal testing of cosmetics products so that consumers can make informed choices; and urges the Government to resist attempts by cosmetics companies and non-EU states to prevent or postpone implementation of the ban on the sale of animal tested cosmetics products or ingredients.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35526","proposer":"10373","edm":"965A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Welfare In Circuses","text":"at end add `but only if the Government maintains its further promise to base any such ban or restriction strictly on scientific evidence, and further notes that the evidence that currently exists provides no support for such action.'.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35491","proposer":"11427","edm":"1257","session":"2007-08","title":"Reintroduction Of Red Kites To North East England","text":"That this House welcomes the introduction of Northern Kite Ale to the Strangers' Bar; notes that the ruby ale is brewed at the Wylam Brewery and that it has been produced to celebrate the welcome re-introduction of the red kite into the North East of England; recognises that the re-introduction of the kites is the first of its kind in that the birds were bred and freed very close to a large urban conurbation; is pleased to note that the project has gone from strength to strength and is a matter of great interest and pride in the local area; and sends both the Red Kites project and the Wylam Brewery the best wishes for their respective futures.","date":"2008-03-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35473","proposer":"11093","edm":"1239","session":"2007-08","title":"Tigers","text":"That this House notes the number of tigers has halved in the last quarter century to approximately 3,500; also notes that the South China tiger could be on the verge of extinction; does not accept this as a necessary decline and notes that the World Wildlife Fund does not accept it either; and calls for the Government to work with the Indian, Indonesian, Chinese and other governments to reverse the decline.","date":"2008-03-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35478","proposer":"10226","edm":"1244","session":"2007-08","title":"Bearskin Caps","text":"That this House recognises that the bearskin caps worn by British military personnel have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty; and invites the Government to end their use and to substitute hats made from fake fur.","date":"2008-03-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35441","proposer":"10177","edm":"1215","session":"2007-08","title":"Household Products","text":"That this House notes the Government's 1997 policy prohibition on the use of animals to test the safety of cosmetic products and their ingredients, which was said to have been introduced on the basis that the suffering caused was not justified given the nature of the product; notes with regret that the Government has not implemented a similar prohibition on the use of animals to test household products, such as washing-up liquid or floor cleaners, and their ingredients; supports the campaign of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection to end the suffering of animals in tests for household products and their ingredients; and calls on the Government to implement a policy prohibition on issuing licences to test household products and their ingredients on animals as a matter of urgency.","date":"2008-03-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35300","proposer":"11768","edm":"1092","session":"2007-08","title":"Insurance Cover For Owners Of Animals","text":"That this House welcomes the introduction of the Animals Act (Amendment) Bill by the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire; recognises the unfairness resulting from the House of Lords' decision in the case of Mirvahedy v Henley [2003] under which the keepers of animals can be held liable for incidents they could not have anticipated; notes the consequential difficulties of horse-owners and stables in obtaining insurance cover; further recognises that the Bill does not seek to change the objectives or scope of the existing legislation but merely to ensure that the Act adequately reflects Parliament's original intentions; further notes the importance of the equine industry to the British countryside and its economy; and further notes the widespread support for the Bill from the animal owning sector and insurers.","date":"2008-03-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35147","proposer":"10616","edm":"954","session":"2007-08","title":"Chicken Welfare","text":"That this House welcomes Jamie Oliver's expos\u00c3\u00a9 on Channel 4 of the gassing of unwanted male chicks with carbon dioxide, which induces gasping for breath; understands that this practice is common across battery, barn and free range egg systems; seeks the abolition of this practice as a matter of humanity; further deplores Tesco's decision to offer \u00c2\u00a31.99 chickens, coming soon after Sainsbury's and the Co-op have promised to raise their minimum chicken welfare standards; and congratulates Marks and Spencer on its market-leading standards for farm animal welfare, recognised by Compassion in World Farming.","date":"2008-02-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35158","proposer":"11946","edm":"965","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Welfare In Circuses","text":"That this House notes with concern that the Circus Working Group disregarded substantial amounts of evidence on the welfare of animals in circuses as a result of the methodology imposed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; believes that the report of the Chair of the Circus Working Group fails to provide reliable information on this subject; and urges the Government to maintain its commitment to ban the use of wild species in travelling circuses and to restrict and limit the use of domesticated species under a strict, accountable and open licensing system.","date":"2008-02-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35108","proposer":"10444","edm":"927","session":"2007-08","title":"Clear Labelling For Real Fur Products","text":"That this House notes that recent advances in the quality and look of fake fur make it difficult for many consumers to tell the difference between items made with fake fur and those made with real fur; further notes that there is now evidence that consumers are confused and some may be purchasing items made or trimmed with real fur believing the fur to be fake; further notes that the Trade Descriptions (Sealskin Goods) (Information) Order 1980 requires that all products made from or containing sealskins carry a label; further notes that a new law came into force in November 2007 in New York State requiring all real fur and fur-trimmed clothing to carry a label saying real fur; and calls upon the Government to introduce, as soon as possible and as a measure to protect consumers, a labelling order requiring all other real fur on sale to carry a label that clearly states that the item is made using real animal fur.","date":"2008-02-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"35018","proposer":"10169","edm":"823A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Endangered Falcons","text":"leave out `Greek Cypriot government' and insert `Republic of Cyprus government and the Turkish-Cypriot administration in the north of Cyprus.'.","date":"2008-01-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34989","proposer":"10295","edm":"823","session":"2007-08","title":"Endangered Falcons","text":"That this House notes with concern the massacre of nearly 50 falcons illegally by hunters in Cyprus; further notes that red-footed falcons have recently been reclassified from vulnerable to globally-threatened; recognises that Cyprus is in the middle of one of the main migration routes for birds heading for the African warmth during the winter; calls on the European Commission to exert its authority; and further calls on the Greek-Cypriot government to ensure that a ban on shooting endangered species is enforced rigorously.","date":"2008-01-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34947","proposer":"10444","edm":"783","session":"2007-08","title":"Commercial Seal Hunting And The Importation Of Seal Products Into The UK","text":"That this House congratulates Belgium and the Netherlands for banning the trade in seal products; welcomes these bans as a step towards an EU-wide ban; is disappointed at the decision of the Canadian government to pursue consultations at the World Trade Organisation against these bans; believes these bans are wholly justified due to the public outrage caused by the cruel killing methods in seal hunts; notes evidence in the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority released in December 2007 on the Animal Welfare Aspects of Killing and Skinning Seals that, in practice, effective killing does not always occur, that during Canada's commercial seal hunt, animals suffer pain and distress and that sealers often do not comply with regulations; and urges the Government to follow the example of Belgium and the Netherlands and ban the trade in seal products in the UK.","date":"2008-01-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34932","proposer":"10785","edm":"769","session":"2007-08","title":"Scottish Sheep Industry And Electronic Tagging","text":"That this House notes the concerns raised by the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) over the European Commission's proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep tagging (Council Regulation (EC) No. 21\/2004 and No. 1560\/2007); believes that this threatens to damage the livelihoods of sheep farmers across Scotland; recognises the NFUS's concerns that the new system would be particularly difficult to operate in a Scottish context where the sheep industry is highly structured and relies on the recording of batch movements; further notes that the UK has the largest sheep flock in the EU that is uniquely stratified resulting in significantly more sheep movements in Scotland than the rest of the EU; is concerned that the proposed electronic identification system would require the recording of individual animal identities at each movement creating extra costs, complexities and work for Scottish farmers; and urges the UK Government to press the European Commission to amend the proposed EU regulation.","date":"2008-01-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34793","proposer":"10363","edm":"640","session":"2007-08","title":"Dangerous Dogs","text":"That this House is alarmed at the number of incidents involving dogs dangerously out of control; urges local authorities to make full use of existing powers, including anti-social behaviour orders and tenancy conditions, to deter irresponsible owners from using their dogs to intimidate the public; calls on the Government to issue new guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs, to set a minimum age for dog ownership and to consider the proposals from the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group for a new Control of Dogs Act with powers to issue control orders backed by powers for dangerous dogs to be destroyed, controlled, muzzled or re-homed, for owners to be disqualified from having charge of a dog on pain of compensation, fines or imprisonment for a procedure for owners to appeal, and for a database to be established of dogs and owners found in breach of the act; but regards as impractical any proposal to take action against specific breeds of dogs or to re-introduce licences.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34746","proposer":"11199","edm":"595","session":"2007-08","title":"Bears In China","text":"That this House welcomes the progress that is being made by the Animals Asia Foundation towards bringing an end to the abhorent abuse of over 7,000 bears on farms in China; recognises that bear farmers and stakeholders in the industry continue to maintain that conditions on the farms are humane, whilst some evidence points to the contrary; notes that bears are kept for up to 22 years in cramped, rusting cages, with little room to stand up or turn around; further notes that bears continue to suffer in the most deplorable conditions, with metal catheters implanted deep into their gallbladders and infected fistula holes in their abdomens, enabling farmers to milk the bears for their bile twice daily; congratulates the Chinese government's work in partnership with Animals Asia Foundation in rescuing 218 bears from bear farms to date; and calls upon the British Government to do everything in its power to encourage the Chinese government to bring about an urgent end to this barbaric practice and to meet Chinese government officials in order to raise serious concerns at a national level.","date":"2007-12-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34719","proposer":"10491","edm":"574","session":"2007-08","title":"Export Of Live Calves","text":"That this House is firmly opposed to the export of live calves to be reared for veal; notes that young calves suffer greatly during long journeys and that scientific research shows that morbidity and mortality following transport can be high; deplores the fact that shipping calves from Dover in severe weather has caused deaths and injuries; further notes that once they reach the Continent, calves are often kept on concrete or slatted floors without any straw or other bedding and that such barren systems are illegal in the United Kingdom; believes that it is ethically unacceptable for calves to be exported for rearing abroad in systems that are prohibited in the United Kingdom on welfare grounds; urges dairy farmers to end the export of calves; and calls on the dairy and beef sectors and the Government to work together to develop humane and economically viable uses for male dairy calves in the United Kingdom.","date":"2007-12-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34721","proposer":"10220","edm":"576","session":"2007-08","title":"Putting To Death Of Gangotri At Bhaktivedanta Hindu Temple","text":"That this House condemns the action of the RSPCA and Hertfordshire police in killing Gangotri - a cow in the sacred herd of the Hindu temple at Bhaktivedanta Manor; notes that the cow suffered from no contagious disease that rendered her any danger to other animals or humans and indeed had received superb nursing care from the temple's herdsman for the muscle failure and bedsores she was stricken with; and expresses its anger that despite promises from the police the previous day that no precipitate action would be taken and assurances that the community would have the opportunity to seek due legal process, the police and RSPCA arrived unannounced the following morning, went to the Goshala and physically removed three devotees before killing Gangotri by lethal injection whilst the rest of the community were at prayer in the temple.","date":"2007-12-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34700","proposer":"10001","edm":"557","session":"2007-08","title":"Penguins At Risk","text":"That this House is concerned at the plight of penguins living in the Antarctic Peninsula; notes that melting ice due to the effects of climate change is devastating the nesting site for penguins; recognises that over-fishing is leading to a lack of food available for penguins; further notes that four species of penguin - the emperor, the gentoo, the chinstrap and the Adelie - are among the most at risk creatures in the area; supports the World Wildlife Fund report which states that some of the emperor penguins' colonies have reduced by half in the past century due to warmer temperatures; and calls on the Government to push for comprehensive and fair emissions cuts at the Bali summit.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34695","proposer":"11923","edm":"554","session":"2007-08","title":"Pigeon Fancying","text":"That this House believes that pigeon fancying should be classified as a sport and is comparable to other animal-based sports such as horse riding; further believes that it is both wrong and fundamentally unfair that pigeon racing clubs have lost their tax rebate whilst sports of a similar status retain theirs; and calls upon the Government to rectify the situation as soon as possible.","date":"2007-12-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34613","proposer":"10258","edm":"480","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Protection Policy","text":"That this House notes the growing body of scientific evidence showing animals to have complex mental and emotional lives; considers all vertebrates and possibly some invertebrates to be conscious, feeling beings with an interest in living, avoiding suffering and experiencing pleasure; acknowledges that each animal has inherent value and is worthy of serious moral consideration; considers respect for animals to be indicative of the level of civilisation; is concerned that policy-making is led by industries that inevitably compromise animals' welfare and interests, and thus the most essential interests of animals and the public's concern for their protection are given insufficient consideration; endorses the Prime Minister's call for constitutional reform that `entrusts more power to Parliament and the British people'; notes that there is no Government body whose primary purpose is to protect the interests of animals in policy-making; and calls upon the Government to establish an Animal Protection Commission or similar body, answerable to Parliament via a Minister, with a remit which includes the ongoing examination of the ethical status and rights of animals and how they are affected by policy-making, the facilitation of genuine public participation throughout policy processes which affect animals, and the development of a cross-Government agenda for animal protection.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34599","proposer":"11199","edm":"466","session":"2007-08","title":"Independent Review Of The Greyhound Industry","text":"That this House notes and welcomes an Independent Review of the Greyhound Industry in Great Britain by Lord Donoughue of Ashton; further notes the review was commissioned in the wake of reports of greyhound welfare issues and is wide-ranging; recognises it is underpinned by an improved welfare policy; and calls on the Government and the sport to work together to embrace and implement the report as soon as possible to improve greyhound welfare both while racing and into retirement as pets.","date":"2007-12-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34605","proposer":"11026","edm":"472","session":"2007-08","title":"Dolphin Slaughter","text":"That this House expresses concern at the annual slaughter of dolphins and other small cetaceans by Japanese fishermen; calls upon the Japanese government to end this barbaric practice; urges both the British Government and the European Union to make strong representations to the Japanese authorities about this brutal ritual which has no place in any civilised society; and calls on the European Union to consider the imposition of sanctions if Japan takes no action to stop this slaughter.","date":"2007-12-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34439","proposer":"11494","edm":"321","session":"2007-08","title":"National Centre For The Replacement, Refinement And Reduction Of Animals In Research","text":"That this House is delighted that the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has received a \u00c2\u00a31 million cash boost, increasing its budget to \u00c2\u00a32.4 million to research 11 new 3Rs projects; thanks the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and The Wellcome Trust for their support; is pleased that the importance of 3Rs research has been acknowledged, given Dagmar Roth-Behrendt MEP's recent statement that the deadline for the 2009 EU-wide marketing ban and animal testing ban on cosmetic ingredients will not be delayed; and asks the Government to continue to acknowledge the value of 3Rs research and further demonstrate its support by continuing this level of funding.","date":"2007-11-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34346","proposer":"10333","edm":"239","session":"2007-08","title":"WORLD'S ONLY LISTED PIGEON CREE (RYHOPE)","text":"That this House supports the campaign by the Ryhope Allotment Holders to maintain and protect their environment which includes the world's only listed pigeon cree; calls upon the owners of Worktalent Ltd to withdraw their notice to terminate the lease; and believes that these historic allotments should be held in trust by the community and provide facilities for local children to enjoy and understand horticulture and the care of pigeons.","date":"2007-11-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34094","proposer":"10521","edm":"4","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Animals To Test Food Additives","text":"That this House notes that the Home Office's Statistics for Scientific Procedures on Living Animals for 2006 recorded a 368.4 per cent. rise in the number of animals used to test food additives, from 862 animals in 2005 to 4,038 animals in 2006; is concerned at the Written Answer of 11th October 2007 that states that these animals are being used to test ingredients such as stabilisers, sweeteners, colorants and flavouring agents; further notes that the 2006 statistics also recorded a 30.2 per cent. rise in the number of animals used for the purposes of other foodstuffs, from 5,742 animals in 2005 to 7,477 animals in 2006; and calls on the Government to back the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's call to stop granting licences for experiments on animals for the purpose of testing food additives and other foodstuffs as a matter of urgency.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34104","proposer":"10470","edm":"14","session":"2007-08","title":"Horse Riding Establishments And Insurance","text":"That this House recognises the importance of the equine industry; notes with concern that horse-riding establishments continue to encounter difficulty with insurance claims following accidents and in obtaining insurance cover generally following the House of Lords interpretation of the Animals Act 1971 in the case of Mirvahedy v Henley [2003] 2 AII ER 401; further notes that this decision has limited the availability of insurance and increased the cost, adversely affecting the commercial viability of the equine sector; applauds the campaign initiated in 2005 by the Country Land and Business Association to have the Animals Act amended; and urges the Government to resolve this issue as soon as possible.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34121","proposer":"11318","edm":"31","session":"2007-08","title":"Animal Welfare","text":"That this House recognises that much of the important detail of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 will follow in the form of regulations and codes of practice; notes that in 2006 the Government only laid before the House regulations relating to farm welfare and tail docking; is concerned that the implementation of regulations and codes of practice is proceeding at a slow pace; and calls upon the Government to bring forward the proposed draft regulations and codes of practice and ensure that Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise them prior to their commencement.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34122","proposer":"11318","edm":"32","session":"2007-08","title":"Greyhounds","text":"That this House calls on the Government to address animal welfare concerns within greyhound racing; notes that 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year, but just 3,500 are re-homed through the largely industry-funded Retired Greyhound Trust and 1,500 through animal welfare charities; is concerned about the numbers of greyhounds unaccounted for; and calls upon the Government to introduce appropriate codes of practice under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at the earliest opportunity.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Animals","id":"34153","proposer":"10258","edm":"63","session":"2007-08","title":"Keeping Of Cetaceans In Captivity","text":"That this House welcomes the fact that no whales, dolphins and porpoises have been kept in captivity in the United Kingdom since 1993 but is concerned that there is no legislation to prevent these animals being housed in captive facilities within the United Kingdom in the future; notes that cetaceans are intelligent, social animals with complex needs which cannot be met in captivity and that there is evidence to suggest that captivity causes serious physical and behavioural welfare problems, and that many cetaceans are still taken from the wild to supply captive facilities; furthermore, notes with concern the involvement of companies in the United Kingdom with overseas establishments which keep cetaceans in captivity; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation specifically prohibiting the keeping of cetaceans in captivity other than in cases which involve short-term rehabilitation with a view to a release back to the wild in the cases of injured cetaceans.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]