Early day motion 334

That this House deplores the fact that over 500,000 lambs and sheep have been exported for slaughter abroad since the resumption of the live export trade on 5th July 1996; is concerned that a significant number of these animals have been sent to Spain, Italy and Greece, countries where slaughter methods can be extremely cruel; notes that a recent paper by University of Bristol scientists concludes that transport is a stressful process for sheep and that 'from a welfare point of view, transport distances and times should be kept to the minimum' and adds that long journeys can result in an increased incidence of disease and mortality; believes that a trade which regularly imposes suffering on animals is not only bad for animal welfare but also for the rural economy and accordingly that the export of live animals for slaughter abroad should be brought to an end and replaced by carcass exports and an added value meat trade; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to take the lead in persuading EU partners to replace long distance live transport throughout the EU with a trade in meat.

after `Italy', insert `France.'.