[{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"44120","proposer":"13864","edm":"3012","session":"2010-12","title":"Illegal Sale And Use Of Ivory","text":"That this House expresses concern over the illegal sale and use of ivory across the world and especially in China; and calls on the Government to work with other nations to ensure that all countries understand and adhere to the international guidance agreed and that all nations are encouraged by diplomatic measures to enforce this guidance in relation to ivory.","date":"2012-04-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"43954","proposer":"10176","edm":"2850","session":"2010-12","title":"Cruelty In A Concrete Jungle","text":"That this House congratulates the World Society for the Protection of Animals for its recent Cruelty in a Concrete Jungle exhibition in the Members' Dining Room; believes that the cruelty to endangered species and links to organised crime justifies the taxpayer funding a well-resourced, London-based, Wildlife Crime Unit; and calls on all candidates for the London Mayoral election to declare they will provide funding at a minimum level that equates to the same real-term value it received in 2003.","date":"2012-03-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"43583","proposer":"10428","edm":"2488","session":"2010-12","title":"Wild Animals In Travelling Circuses","text":"That this House believes that the use of wild animals in travelling circuses is fundamentally wrong because their welfare and well-being is continuously compromised by confinement in an environment that can never meet their complex needs; notes the results of the recent Departmentfor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs'public consultation on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses which produced an outcome of 94 per cent. of participants stating their wish for the introduction of a complete ban on such practices; and therefore calls on the Government immediately to bring forward legislation to end the confinement of all wild animals in the inherently unsuitableand unacceptable environments of travelling circuses throughout the UK.","date":"2011-11-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"42927","proposer":"24847","edm":"1860","session":"2010-12","title":"Wild Animals In Circuses (No.2)","text":"That this House regrets the failure of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ban the use of wild animals in circuses; further regrets the Secretary of State's statement to the House with regard to an Austrian court case which does not exist; regrets that Ministers are using a potential court case in Austria not to implement a ban on wild animals in circuses in the UK; questions Ministers' use of the Human Rights Act when the Department's own impact assessment on a ban states that there are no concerns; holds that the Government's proposed licensing scheme will fail adequately to protect the welfare of wild animals; notes that 94.5 per cent. of respondents to the previous administration's public consultation support a ban, as well as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the British Veterinary Association, the Born Free Foundation and Animal Defenders International; welcomes The Independent newspaper's petition calling for a ban which has attracted over 22,000 signatures; and urges the Government to use its powers under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to introduce a regulation banning the use of all wild animals in circuses without further delay.","date":"2011-05-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"42499","proposer":"10074","edm":"1468","session":"2010-12","title":"Trade Of Illegal Ivory","text":"That this House is concerned that despite the world wide ban on the sale of ivory, there is recent evidence of an increase in demand for illegal ivory; recognises the commendable progress China has made in recent years to improve illegal wildlife trade enforcement; notes with concern however recent reports which claim ivory demand in China is fuelling the rise of illegal poaching of elephants; is further concerned by reports that in one Chinese government-approved workshop, illegal tusks were being carved; and calls on the Government to urge China to investigate these claims.","date":"2011-02-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"42180","proposer":"11707","edm":"1168","session":"2010-12","title":"Diplomatic Action And Commercial Whaling","text":"That this House condemns the departure of the Japanese whaling fleet for Antarctica; notes with dismay that Japan will seek to kill almost a thousand whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in defiance of global opposition and several international laws; believes that there is no science in Japan's scientific whaling programme but that it is simply commercial whaling by another name; understands that non-lethal research is providing all the data needed to learn about whales; believes that whaling is cruel and unnecessary and that there is no humane way to kill a whale; welcomes the record of successive UK governments in opposing whaling at the International Whaling Commission (IWC); notes with concern the continuing allegations of corruption and vote-buying at the IWC; urges the Government to seek to address issues of transparency and governance in the IWC ahead of the 2011 meeting of the IWC in Jersey; and further urges the Government to take diplomatic action at the highest level to urge Japan to end its whaling programme.","date":"2010-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"41713","proposer":"11199","edm":"753","session":"2010-12","title":"Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands","text":"That this House notes with concern the threat which rats pose to the unique wildlife of Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, in particular to the Henderson Petrel, but also the Henderson Fruit-dove, Henderson Lorikeet, Henderson Crake, Henderson Reed-warbler, eight endemic species of Henderson snail, three other species of gadfly petrel and the hatchlings of the green turtle population; laments the death of the 25,000 chicks which are killed each year; calls on the Government to heed the warning from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and provide the funding for the rat eradication scheme; applauds the work done by the RSPB in highlighting this important issue as well as raising more than one million pounds towards the cost of this project; and believes that in the Year of Biodiversity this measure would be a huge boost to global biodiversity and would further increase awareness of the British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands.","date":"2010-09-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"41576","proposer":"10521","edm":"619","session":"2010-12","title":"Decline In Number Of Turtle Doves","text":"That this House is alarmed at the huge reduction in the number of turtle doves, down by 88 per cent. since 1970 and fears that the bird faces extinction in the British Isles; notes that the reduction has been caused by the disappearance of wildflowers brought about by intensive farming; welcomes a researchproject by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Natural England which involves the sowing of plots of seed-rich corn crops in 16 farms across East Anglia; and calls on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to promote policies to reverse the decline in turtle doves.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"41475","proposer":"11199","edm":"522","session":"2010-12","title":"Rescue Of Sun Bears By Edinburgh Zoo","text":"That this House congratulates Edinburgh Zoo for their magnificent efforts in bringing two sun bears, Rotana and Sommang, to Scotland after they were rescued from inhumane treatment in Cambodia; commends the work of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in ensuring the safe transfer of the bears to the United Kingdom; notes the importance of such institutions in providing a safe environment for rare animals; and acknowledges the great achievements by the staff at Edinburgh Zoo in educating people about the importance of wildlife conservationand animal welfare.","date":"2010-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"41344","proposer":"10199","edm":"403","session":"2010-12","title":"Wild Animals In Circuses","text":"That this House notes that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs public consultation on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses shows that 94.5 per cent. of respondents support a ban as the best option to protect the welfare of circus animals; further notes that the new Government has been unclear on whether it will take action; believes that treating wild animals as circus tricks has no place in civilised society; underlines that violence against animals continues to occur routinely in circuses as revealed in an investigation into the Great British Circus in 2009; recognises that the only thing stopping this ban from coming into place is a decision by Ministers; and urges the Government to use its powers under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act to make a regulation banning the use of all wild animals in circuses.","date":"2010-07-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40966","proposer":"10521","edm":"52","session":"2010-12","title":"UK Wildlife","text":"That this House is alarmed at a report from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee which reveals that 88 species of wildlife are in decline, with eight species becoming extinct since 1994; is deeply concerned that the assessment of hundreds of threatened species and habitats listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan found that 19 types of landscape are also suffering, including mudflats and salt marshes; agrees with Mr Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, that `British wildlife is in crisis; species that have lived here for thousands of years are declining and disappearing'; notes that many of the species have suffered from the loss of their habitats, intensive farming and pollution; and calls on the Government to carry out election pledges on protecting wildlife in order for the UK to meet the new European Union target of halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems by 2020.","date":"2010-05-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40824","proposer":"11589","edm":"1178","session":"2009-10","title":"Commercial Whaling Ban","text":"That this House deplores the prospect of the international moratorium on commercial whaling being nullified by so-called compromise proposals being drafted for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Conference in Agadir, Morocco in June 2010; notes with alarm that under the guise of reductions in whale slaughter through quotas, observers and DNA databases, two IWC working groups are proposing to legitimise the commercial whaling activities of the three countries who have persisted in hunting whales in defiance of the existing ban established by the IWC in 1986, in Japan, Norway and Iceland, and to allow whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary; notes with anxiety that the proposed quotas are being negotiated towards a final revision of the draft proposals due in late April when Parliament may be dissolved; welcomes the concerns voiced by UK Government ministers about the worrying drafts now on the table which claim that `the moratorium shall remain in place'; stands by the environmental movement's landmark achievement of the whaling moratorium agreed in 1982 and introduced in 1986; and abhors the possible setback for wildlife protection at Agadir in June which could follow the failures on climate change in Copenhagen in December 2009.","date":"2010-03-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40799","proposer":"10190","edm":"1157","session":"2009-10","title":"Whaling","text":"That this House notes that the whaling moratorium was introduced in 1986 in order to combat the fact that many populations of the great whales had been drastically reduced by over-hunting, and that whaling itself, based on the firing of explosive harpoons into large and intelligent animals, was cruel; is concerned by the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) proposal to legitimise the commercial whaling activities of Japan, Norway and Iceland; understands that the proposal seeks to set official IWC quotas for whales that they may hunt, in all the places where they currently hunt them in defiance of the moratorium, including the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, for the first time in 25 years; believes that such a proposal represents a conservational disaster; further believes that the proposal represents no guarantee of a significant reduction in the number of whales killed in the short term; and calls on the Government to oppose any proposal that condones or endorses commercial whaling if the issue is raised and voted on at the IWC conference in Agadir, Morocco, in June.","date":"2010-03-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40285","proposer":"10006","edm":"695","session":"2009-10","title":"Ivory Trade","text":"That this House notes with concern the increase in trade in illegal ivory and ivory products and the severe consequences for the elephant population in parts of Africa; believes that there is a direct link between the growth in this illegal trade and the decision to permit the sale of stockpiled ivory; further believes that existing stockpiles of ivory should be destroyed, not sold; and urges the Government to state its unequivocal opposition to any further sales of stockpiled ivory and to exert its influence at the next Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species conference to ensure a total ban on the sale of ivory and ivory products for the next 20 years.","date":"2010-01-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40286","proposer":"10295","edm":"696","session":"2009-10","title":"Ivory Trade (No. 2)","text":"That this House strongly opposes demands from Tanzania and Zambia temporarily to lift the worldwide ban on ivory trading for a one-off sale; notes that at present the illegal ivory trade is already devastating elephant populations and in some central and west African countries is pushing them close to extinction; further notes that the resumption of any such trading creates a market into which illegally-poached ivory can be laundered, therefore boosting demand and increasing the risk to elephants; is dismayed that the issue is being debated despite agreements that when the last ivory auction was sanctioned in 2007 there would be no more such one-off sales for at least nine years; calls on the Government to take a clear lead in opposing all moves to weaken the ban; and urges UK representatives in Europe to make their voice heard at the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Qatar in March 2010.","date":"2010-01-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40270","proposer":"10597","edm":"682","session":"2009-10","title":"Protection For Polar Bears","text":"That this House notes that the survival of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by climate change as well as the commercial trade in polar bear products, such as fur skins; further notes that the United States has submitted a proposal to list the polar bear on Appendix I of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES); further notes that the polar bear satisfies the biological and trade criteria for inclusion in Appendix I; further notes that this listing is essential to ensure that commercial trade does not compound the threats posed to this species by loss of habitat; and urgently calls on the Government to support the US proposal to transfer the polar bear to CITES Appendix I.","date":"2010-01-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"40239","proposer":"11814","edm":"654","session":"2009-10","title":"Protection Of Birds Of Prey","text":"That this House congratulates the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on acquiring over 200,000 signatories to its campaign to end the illegal killing of birds of prey; recognises the depth of public support this shows for more action to be taken to protect birds of prey; further recognises the socio-economic benefits healthy bird of prey populations can bring to rural communities; notes that the shooting, poisoning and other destruction of magnificent species including Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons remains unacceptably common; acknowledges that such persecution represents a major impediment towards the recovery of such species to their historic levels; and calls on the Government to make ending the illegal killing of these iconic birds a greater priority.","date":"2010-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"39429","proposer":"11946","edm":"2179","session":"2008-09","title":"Wild Animals In Circuses","text":"That this House notes with concern that current legislation fails to protect wild animals in circuses; is appalled that this had led to serious abuse such as the one revealed by Animal Defenders International's investigation in the Great British Circus, which shows violence against and the confinement of elephants; reminds the Government that it has repeatedly committed itself before this House to ban certain species of wild animals in circuses; further notes with disappointment that no substantial proposal has been yet made by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and once again 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":"2009-10-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"38558","proposer":"10444","edm":"1397","session":"2008-09","title":"Vote On Seal Products In Europe","text":"That this House applauds the members of the European Parliament Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection for their decision to vote in favour of a complete ban on the commercial trade and importation into the EU of seal products; recognises the Canadian seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on earth; believes that the nature of the hunt is inherently inhumane; deplores the 1.7 million harp seal pups killed since 2003; further notes that public opinion polls consistently show that over 70 per cent. of British and European citizens are opposed to commercial seal hunting; recognises the UK Government's efforts in urging both the European Commission and European Member states to carry forward the wishes of British and European citizens; and calls on all members of the European Parliament to vote for a ban on seal products in Europe.","date":"2009-04-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37841","proposer":"10394","edm":"781","session":"2008-09","title":"National Nest Box Week","text":"That this House congratulates the British Trust for Ornithology for promoting the National Nest Box week which runs from 14 to 21 February; notes with regret the large decline in garden bird species, but notes that St Valentine's Day is usually the start of birds pairing up for the new breeding season; believes it is vital that more people realise the importance of nest boxes to the survival of bird species; and urges everyone with a garden, no matter how small, and whether in town or country, to participate in Nest Box Week and save more of the UK's declining bird species.","date":"2009-02-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37729","proposer":"10597","edm":"678","session":"2008-09","title":"Protection For Seals","text":"That this House recognises the UK's international obligations to maintain its globally important seal populations at a favourable conservation status; notes that seal populations remain depleted and are threatened by further outbreaks of the phocine distemper virus and remain under increasing threat from climate change, depletion of prey species pollution and deliberate killing; notes with extreme concern scientific reports of a frightening decline in the population of common seals in UK waters; further notes that an estimated 5,000 seals are shot in Scottish waters by the salmon industry; believes that the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 is outdated and in urgent need of review or replacement; and calls on the Government to implement an immediate and comprehensive ban on the deliberate killing of all seals, to replace the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 with legislation for the comprehensive protection of seals in the forthcoming Marine Bill and to liaise with the Scottish Executive to this end.","date":"2009-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37693","proposer":"11494","edm":"643","session":"2008-09","title":"Seal Imports From Commercial Hunts","text":"That this House notes with grave concern the cruelty of Canada's commercial seal hunt and is saddened by the damage the slaughter is doing to Canada's international reputation; further 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; further notes that over 1.7 million harp seal pups have been killed since 2003; further notes with grave concern that, given that regulations to curb the suffering of these creatures are inadequate and unenforceable, the proposed EU ban on seal imports would be unwise to exempt seal products obtained from hunts which meet certain criteria for killing seals; and calls on the Government to campaign for an amendment to the proposed EU regulation to ban seal imports totally and to ban the trade in seal products from commercial hunts.","date":"2009-02-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37502","proposer":"10258","edm":"478","session":"2008-09","title":"Proposal To Ban Seal Imports","text":"That this House recognises that an historic opportunity to introduce an EU-wide ban on the import of and the trade in all seal products is currently within reach, as the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers examine draft EU legislation to that effect in the coming months; notes that the Government's position is to support a complete EU-wide ban with no loopholes; further notes that 84 per cent. of the public wants to see an end to the trade in all seal products; and calls on the Government to do all in its power, and in particular encourage our 78 MEPs to support this approach, to ensure that a complete EU ban comes into force as soon as possible.","date":"2009-01-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37062","proposer":"10527","edm":"70","session":"2008-09","title":"Sourcing Of Sea Bass Supply From Hand-Line Fishermen","text":"That this House notes the continuing slaughter of dolphins and other cetaceans as a consequence of industrial pair trawling for sea bass; believes that all buyers should follow the example of restaurants in the South Hams, Teignbridge and Torbay and source their supply from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers; and calls on the Government to encourage all outlets across all departments under its influence to do likewise.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37067","proposer":"10006","edm":"75","session":"2008-09","title":"Climate Change And Biodiversity","text":"That this House notes with concern the negative impact climate change will have on biodiversity and the challenges wildlife will face migrating through increasingly damaged and fragmented landscapes; acknowledges that a landscape scale approach is required to help the environment to better adapt to change, provide ecological services such as flood prevention and pollution reduction and accommodate wildlife movement; and therefore calls on the Government to facilitate this through promotion of a holistic approach incorporating a range of bodies at local, regional and central government level as well as private organisations and individuals.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37082","proposer":"11318","edm":"90","session":"2008-09","title":"Bee Health Research","text":"That this House notes the vital role that honey bees play in the pollination of plants for food and other crops; recognises that honey bees make the substantial contribution of \u00c2\u00a3165 million annually to the agricultural economy, according to estimates by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); acknowledges the potential impact that a decline in honey bee populations would have on our environment and our diet; understands that the emergence of colony collapse disorder poses a significant threat to the UK's honey bee populations; further understands that a decline in the number of honey bees would not only threaten food crops but also every type of flora; further notes the concerns of many beekeepers that the varroa mite is becoming increasingly resistant to attempts to control it; congratulates the British Beekeepers' Association for the work it does and for the research programme it has recommended to DEFRA; and calls on the Government to prioritise research into bee health.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"37085","proposer":"10006","edm":"95","session":"2008-09","title":"Whaling","text":"That this House recognises the important role played by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in protecting whales and in marine conservation; further recognises the importance of continuing with that protection and maintaining the international moratorium on commercial whaling; urges members of the IWC to resist the sustained efforts of pro-whaling countries to undermine the international moratorium; fears that continuing to hold the IWC's Small Working Group meetings behind closed doors could lead to a compromise decision which would undermine the moratorium and legitimise some form of commercial whaling; calls upon the Government to campaign for the negotiations and discussions within the IWC to be fully transparent; and further calls on Government departments to work together and pro-actively lobby more countries to join the IWC to support the international moratorium.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"36838","proposer":"10383","edm":"2438","session":"2007-08","title":"Hunting With Dogs","text":"That this House notes that prior to Parliament's decision to outlaw the hunting of wild animals with dogs, a reported 50,000 hunt members and supporters signed a declaration that they would disobey such a law; further notes that there is mounting evidence that hunts are avoiding the law and by various devices are continuing the barbaric practice of hunting foxes down to a bloody kill and claiming that such kills are accidental; and therefore calls on the Government to act to prevent this abuse of the spirit of the anti-hunting legislation by means of an amendment to the Hunting Act to include a reckless behaviour clause.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"36373","proposer":"11245","edm":"2032","session":"2007-08","title":"Palm Oil And Acacia Plantations","text":"That this House notes that the expansion of palm oil production threatens rainforests around the tropics; further notes that some 3,200,000 hectares of oil palms in Indonesia and Malaysia are grown on peatland; further notes that such cultivation on deep peat releases many more times greenhouse emissions than the palm oil can save when used in biodiesel, yet such biodiesel can be labelled as making a carbon saving according to the Department for Transport's carbon and sustainability reporting requirements published in January 2008; further notes that EU palm oil imports are being used to replace vegetable oils in for-bioenergy generation; further notes also that the expanding cultivation of acacias for woodpulp on peatlands erodes the peat even faster; further notes the WWF report which indicates that these industries are causing an alarming decline in Sumatran elephants and tigers, and that most future forest clearances in Sumatra will be on deep peatland; therefore urges the Government and the international community to press the Indonesian government to rescind all concessions for new plantations on peatland; further urges the Government to end the labelling of biofuels as saving emissions where this is a false statement; and further urges the Government and the EU to take action to stop the destruction of forests and to be honest about the overall impact of their biofuel policy for reducing carbon emissions.","date":"2008-07-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"36312","proposer":"10203","edm":"1980","session":"2007-08","title":"Bovine Tuberculosis (No. 2)","text":"That this House applauds the courageous decision of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to reject the irrational, evidence-free calls for the mass slaughter of badgers; notes that after a wholesale cull of badgers in the Irish Republic bovine tuberculosis levels are higher there than in Northern Ireland where no cull took place; agrees with the Independent Scientific Group's conclusion, after a 10-year study, that badger culling cannot meaningfully contribute to the future control of bovine tuberculosis; welcomes the Government's search for an effective vaccine; calls on farmers to reduce unnecessary cattle movements that increase the susceptibility of cattle to cattle infections; and regrets the cheap populism of those who demand a cull of badgers that is likely to increase the spread of bovine tuberculosis.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"36169","proposer":"10295","edm":"1859","session":"2007-08","title":"Japanese Whaling Policy","text":"That this House condemns the controversial Japanese policy of hunting whales under the bogus banner of scientific research; supports the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and Greenpeace objectives to expose the practice as commercial whaling under the guise of science; calls on the Government to give full backing to the IWC in its objective to forbid Japan from using a scientific research programme to kill an increasing annual quota of whales; and fully supports the IWC's proposal to assign a region of the Atlantic Ocean for a permanent whale sanctuary where all hunting will be banned.","date":"2008-06-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"36062","proposer":"10716","edm":"1762","session":"2007-08","title":"Puffin Population","text":"That this House notes with alarm that puffin numbers in the North Sea are in sharp decline with colonies on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth falling by nearly a third this year after decades of continual population increases; believes that puffins represent a vital element of UK marine life; recognises that due to puffins' broad spread across the North Sea and their varied diet, any decline in puffin numbers is indicative of broader ecological concerns across the North Sea; further notes that scientists have highlighted warming seas, changes and shifts in puffin food supplies, and intensive fishing across the North Sea as all contributing to the current declining numbers; and calls on the Government to work with local and national ecological groups to safeguard the future of the puffin and to bring forward a Marine Bill to urgently protect the UK's coastline.","date":"2008-06-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"35671","proposer":"10001","edm":"1420","session":"2007-08","title":"Icelandic Commercial Whaling","text":"That this House is concerned about reports in the Icelandic media that whaling may be resumed in the country; notes that commercial whaling in Iceland was halted in 2007 after a decision by the Icelandic government that there was not enough demand for whale meat; further notes that in a recent Gallup poll 66 per cent. of Icelanders agreed that if the market was poor, whaling should not be resumed; recognises that Iceland now has a profitable whale-watching industry worth \u00c2\u00a310 million a year in 2007; is further concerned that a resumption of whaling will damage Iceland's international reputation and could affect tourism and whale-watching in Iceland; and calls on the Prime Minister to encourage Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde and the Icelandic government not to issue new whaling quotas.","date":"2008-04-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"35523","proposer":"10428","edm":"1288","session":"2007-08","title":"Badger Culling And Control Of Bovine Tuberculosis","text":"That this House is aware that currently the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering giving the go-ahead for a widespread cull of badgers in England and Wales, under the guise of helping to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle; believes that such a course of action would stand against the advice of the Government's own appointed Independent Scientific Group on the subject which concluded in its report that badger culling would make no meaningful contribution to cattle tuberculosis control in the UK; recalls that the Department's own recent public consultation on the subject prompted a record 47,472 responses, 95 per cent. of which opposed such actions, including responses from a number of key stakeholders such as the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and others who indicated that they will not allow such measures to be carried out on any of their land holdings; calls on the Government to listen instead to these views and learn from their expertise and concerns; and asks them not to authorise such action but instead to urge agricultural interests to focus their endeavours on other disease control methods including more vigorous testing of cattle and increased biosecurity.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"35361","proposer":"10586","edm":"1141","session":"2007-08","title":"Marine Bill (No. 3)","text":"That this House believes that technological advances and national commitments have led to an intensification of economic activity in the seas with the potential to cause irreparable damage to marine ecosystems; deplores the fact that at present less than 0.001 per cent. of the UK's sea area is fully protected by law for nature conservation; is mindful that the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's Turning the Tide report concluded in 2004 that at least 30 per cent. of UK waters should be no-take reserves in order to deliver the kind of recovery needed to restore ecosystems and thereby make fish populations sustainable; welcomes the proposal to introduce a Marine Bill; but calls on the Government to ensure that it places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish an ecologically coherent network of highly protected marine reserves covering at least 30 per cent. of UK seas out to 200 nautical miles.","date":"2008-03-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"35259","proposer":"10203","edm":"1060","session":"2007-08","title":"Enforcement Of The Hunting Act 2004","text":"That this House insists that appropriate action should be taken by Dyfed Powys police following the invasion of Llwyncelyn Road, Glanaman in January by a pack of 30 dogs in pursuit of a fox in a clear breach of the law; notes a comment of a resident that `The law is an ass if you ask me and these huntsmen are getting away with murder'; is concerned by reports of flagrant breaches of the Hunting Act 2004; and calls on the police throughout the UK to do their duty.","date":"2008-02-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"35261","proposer":"11156","edm":"1062","session":"2007-08","title":"Elephants","text":"That this House condemns the South African authorities who have lifted the moratorium on the culling of elephants; and urges the same authorities to find alternative methods of saving the habitat while protecting these magnificent animals.","date":"2008-02-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"35241","proposer":"11148","edm":"1043","session":"2007-08","title":"Maltese Bird Hunt","text":"That this House condemns the Maltese bird hunt which results in the senseless slaughter of spring migrant birds on the island of Malta; congratulates the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds along with Maltese conservationists on highlighting the mass destruction of birds; and urges action by Malta to stop this illegal activity and respect European Union bird protection laws.","date":"2008-02-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","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":"Wildlife","id":"34545","proposer":"11461","edm":"423","session":"2007-08","title":"Mass Extinction Of Amphibians","text":"That this House registers its concern at the continuing decline of the planet's amphibian species which include frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians; notes that after thriving for over 360 million years up to one half of all amphibians could disappear in our lifetime, an event that will be the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs; and, given the need to avert this environmental disaster, urges the Government to take the lead in promoting the conservation and preservation of the globally important habitats which sustain these wonderful amphibians and the many other creatures that share them.","date":"2007-11-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34479","proposer":"10527","edm":"359","session":"2007-08","title":"Protection Of Reefs In Lyme Bay","text":"That this House welcomes the current Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs public consultation on measures to protect the marine biodiversity of reefs in Lyme Bay; recognises that these habitats are of national, if not international, conservation importance and can support a range of sustainable economic activities, including potting, sports diving and sea angling, providing a significant return to local businesses; further recognises that the needs of wildlife and of these local businesses are threatened by scallop dredging which slowly destroys the habitats on which they all depend, for less than half the return from the same area; believes that the protection of the Lyme Bay reefs is urgently required on environmental and economic grounds; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce statutory protection for the entire 60 square miles of the Lyme Bay reefs, which constitutes less than 10 per cent. of the whole of Lyme Bay.","date":"2007-11-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34432","proposer":"10177","edm":"314","session":"2007-08","title":"Snares","text":"That this House notes with concern that badgers, otters, domestic pets, livestock and other animals continue to be severely injured and killed by snares; expresses particular concern that self-locking snares, made illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, are still being used in the UK; notes that free-running snares are legal for the control of foxes and rabbits but are by their nature indiscriminate and therefore cause considerable pain and suffering not only to the target species, but to many non-targeted animals; further notes that the Independent Working Group on Snares agreed that snares were indiscriminate when it reported that it would be difficult to reduce the proportion of non-targeted animals caught below 40 per cent.; believes that the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in relation to snares are difficult to enforce and have failed adequately to protect wildlife from unnecessary suffering and death; welcomes the Scottish Executive's 2007 decision to consult on a ban on snares; further notes that responses to the Scottish consultation were 70 per cent. in favour of a ban; and calls on the Government to consult on the abolition of the manufacture, sale and use of all snares.","date":"2007-11-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34446","proposer":"10394","edm":"328","session":"2007-08","title":"Release Of Grey Squirrels","text":"That this House commends the work of the European Squirrels Initiative in saving red squirrels; notes with concern that the number of grey squirrels re-released into the wild, under licences granted by Natural England, has reached 257 over the last 18 months; condemns Natural England for breaking section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 without regard for Britain's native red squirrel population; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to prevent further decline of the red squirrel population in the UK.","date":"2007-11-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34411","proposer":"10295","edm":"300","session":"2007-08","title":"Whaling (No. 2)","text":"That this House condemns the latest actions by Japanese whalers who are hunting minke and humpback whales; expresses grave concern at the relentless increase in numbers of whales killed by Japan, Iceland and Norway, and their pressure to overturn the moratorium on commercial whaling and the ban on international trade in whale products; welcomes the campaign by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to stop commercial whaling; congratulates the Government for its recent commitment to regaining a conservation majority at the International Whaling Commission; and strongly believes that, for the UK to be the most effective advocate for whale conservation, the issue needs to be elevated to the Prime Minister's agenda and adequately resourced.","date":"2007-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34347","proposer":"10203","edm":"240","session":"2007-08","title":"Badger Culling","text":"That this House rejects the evidence-free call for a mass slaughter of badgers, in contradiction of the proof of a 10-year detailed scientific study and the assurance of Professor John Bourne that badger culling will have no impact on reducing the spread of bovine tuberculosis; notes that the virtual extermination of badgers in the Republic of Ireland has failed to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis, which is currently twice as high as in the UK; further notes that British areas where badgers have been culled show a four fold increase in cases; and believes that the \u00c2\u00a380 million paid to farmers in free insurance for cattle destroyed in 2006 should be phased out to encourage farmers to restrict non-essential animal movements, which are the principal cause of cattle infections.","date":"2007-11-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34330","proposer":"10203","edm":"228","session":"2007-08","title":"Hunt Monitors","text":"That this House applauds the hunt monitors who courageously challenge the extreme violence and intimidation of hunt extremists to ensure that the law is obeyed and to gather evidence to present to the authorities; thanks and congratulates the Protect Our Wild Animals group for providing video proof that the law is being flouted; and calls on the police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that the Hunting Act 2004 is properly enforced.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34260","proposer":"10444","edm":"164","session":"2007-08","title":"JAPAN'S HUMPBACK WHALE HUNT","text":"That this House condemns the imminent slaughter under the guise of science of 50 endangered humpback whales, as well as 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales, by Japanese whalers in the internationally designated Southern Ocean whale sanctuary; expresses deep concern that the humpbacks to be targeted by Japan form part of an endangered population of whales that is vitally important for whale watching industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, countries which treasure these whales alive, both culturally and economically; notes that a Resolution was adopted at this year's International Whaling Commission meeting in Anchorage which strongly criticised Japan's scientific whaling, exposing it as a sham designed to disguise commercial whaling; further notes that whaling in any form is inherently cruel and that there is no humane way to kill whales; further notes that these whales can be studied using non-lethal research methods; and calls on the Government to unequivocally condemn Japan's cruel, unnecessary and unlawful whaling activities and engage in increased diplomatic action at the highest levels to bring an end to commercial and scientific whaling.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34235","proposer":"10526","edm":"145","session":"2007-08","title":"Environmental Coalition For A Marine Bill","text":"That this House welcomes the inclusion of a draft Marine Bill in the legislative programme; applauds the work of the Marine Conservation Society, the RSPB, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, The Wildlife Trusts and WWF who came together through the Wildlife and Countryside Link coalition to press for a Marine Bill for the 2007-08 legislative programme; notes their disappointment at the omission of a full Bill; notes the continued cross-party political support for a Marine Bill; welcomes the widespread public support for the Bill gathered by these organisations over the summer; believes that with the utmost urgency the United Kingdom needs a new approach to managing and protecting its marine resources, wildlife and cultural heritage; further believes that the Marine Bill must be based on a statutory system of spatial planning to reduce conflict between the many users of these seas as well as reform of inshore fisheries; further believes that, given the extraordinary richness of wildlife in UK seas, the Bill must put protection of wildlife at the heart of marine policy through measures including the designation of a network of marine conservation zones; and calls on the Government to introduce a Marine Bill at the earliest opportunity during the current Parliament.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34100","proposer":"10470","edm":"10","session":"2007-08","title":"Bovine Tuberculosis","text":"That this House notes with concern that since 1997 bovine tuberculosis has cost the taxpayer \u00c2\u00a3500 million and resulted in the slaughter of over 160,000 cattle; deplores the lack of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease; believes that a package of measures is required which addresses both cattle-to-cattle transmission and the reservoir of infection in wildlife; urges the urgent trialling of vaccines and the polymerase chain reaction test to identify live vectors of the disease; and calls on the Government to take the practical measures necessary to reduce the toll of bovine TB on wildlife, cattle and the British farming industry.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34111","proposer":"11318","edm":"21","session":"2007-08","title":"Marine Environment","text":"That this House notes that the marine environment surrounding the United Kingdom supports around 44,000 species; further notes the importance of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas; is concerned about the ever-increasing pressure on the marine environment from coastal and offshore activities; believes that continued degradation threatens the long-term survival of internationally valuable habitats, wildlife and maritime archaeology; believes that such degradation of the marine environment is detrimental to the economic activities dependent on marine resources; notes that the United Kingdom does not have a strategic and co-ordinated approach for managing marine resources and for protecting the biological and cultural heritage; and calls upon the Government to introduce a system of integrated marine management, marine spatial plans and marine protected areas by enacting a Marine Bill in this Session.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34113","proposer":"11318","edm":"23","session":"2007-08","title":"Whaling","text":"That this House recognises the important role played by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in protecting whales and marine conservation; further recognises the importance of continuing with that protection and maintaining the international moratorium on commercial whaling; welcomes the anti-whaling majority vote at the IWC 59 meeting in May; urges members of the IWC to resist the sustained efforts of pro-whaling countries to undermine the international moratorium; and calls upon Government departments to work together and pro-actively lobby more countries to join the IWC to support the international moratorium.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34124","proposer":"11318","edm":"34","session":"2007-08","title":"Orangutans And Palm Oil","text":"That this House expresses concern about the growth of oil palm plantations in Borneo; notes that many oil palm plantations have replaced the rainforest, which is the habitat for the orangutan; is further concerned that increasing habitat destruction could lead to the extinction of the orangutan within five years; welcomes the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil; and urges the palm oil industry to take responsible action to protect orangutan habitats and become sustainable.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34140","proposer":"10527","edm":"50","session":"2007-08","title":"Sourcing Of Sea Bass Supply From Hand-Line Fishermen","text":"That this House notes the continuing slaughter of dolphins and other cetaceans as a consequence of industrial pair trawling for sea bass; believes that all buyers should follow the example of restaurants in the South Hams, Teignbridge and Torbay and source their supply from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers; and calls on the Government to encourage all outlets across all departments under its influence to do likewise.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","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"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34173","proposer":"10006","edm":"83","session":"2007-08","title":"Climate Change And Biodiversity","text":"That this House notes with concern the negative impact climate change will have on biodiversity and the challenges wildlife will face migrating through increasingly damaged and fragmented landscapes; acknowledges that a landscape scale approach is required to help the environment to better adapt to change, provide ecological services such as flood prevention and pollution reduction and accommodate wildlife movement; and therefore calls on the Government to facilitate this through promotion of a holistic approach incorporating a range of bodies at local, regional and central Government level as well as private organisations and individuals.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34181","proposer":"11318","edm":"91","session":"2007-08","title":"Marine Bill And UK Government Policy","text":"That this House notes that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs identified protecting the marine environment as one of its main objectives in 2001 in Working For The Essentials of Life; further notes that in Delivering The Essentials Of Life: Defra's Five Year Strategy in 2004 the Government promised to deliver a Marine Bill; is disappointed that the Government failed to deliver the draft Marine Bill promised in the 2005 Queen's Speech; is further disappointed that the promise made by the former marine environment minister, the hon. Member for Exeter, that there would be a Marine Bill in this Session (Environmental Audit Committee Eight Report of Session 2005-06) is likely to be broken; urges the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to take a greater leadership role in co-ordinating the devolved administrations and Government departments in the production of the Marine Bill; recognises the strong support in Parliament and among the general public for a Marine Bill; and calls upon the Government to introduce a Marine Bill in the present Session and to ensure that the provisions of the Bill are brought into force.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Wildlife","id":"34186","proposer":"10006","edm":"96","session":"2007-08","title":"Marine Bill (No. 2)","text":"That this House calls on the Government to introduce a Marine Bill in this Parliamentary session.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]