MP Introduces Adjournment Debate on Canadian Seal Slaughter and UK Trade
14 February 2006
UK House of Commons. MP Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley) introduced an adjournment debate on the issue of the Canadian seal slaughter and the UK trade in seal products.
Judy dedicated the debate to the late Tony Banks who died so tragically and unexpectedly in January.
On the issue of UK trade Judy said: ‘until we ban the import and trade in all the hunt’s products, we too have the seal’s blood on our hands.’
Above: Judy Mallaber MP visits Respect for Animals' seal campaign stand at the Labour Party regional conference in Skegness, February 2006
A number of MPs present at the debate intervened. All were supportive of a call for an end to the seal hunt. Rob Marris described what happens as ‘horrifying’, Nick Palmer pointed out that the UK was legally able to go ahead and ban the trade in seal products, David Taylor dismissed any argument that there was a conflict between the seals and fish stocks and Mr Brooks Newmark reminded the House that this was an animal welfare issue and asked listeners to imagine their dog or their cat being clubbed and skinned alive. Eric Martlew who chairs the All Party Group on Animal Welfare in Parliament asked if other countries have introduced bans on the import of seals products ‘why cannot the Minister announce tonight that Britain will do the same?’
In reply, the Minister for Trade, Ian Pearson said that ‘the association between Canada and seal clubbing clearly does the reputation of Canadians no good at all’. He hoped that Canada will ‘end all commercial seal hunting.’
In conclusion, Ian Pearson said that his officials were currently examining the legal opinion commissioned by Respect for Animals that concludes that a UK import ban on seal products would be compatible with World Trade Organisation rules and that he had asked them to liase with their counterparts in countries that had already banned the import of seal products.
He made a commitment to have further meetings with MPs and organisations on the issue and his comments were seen as a major step forward in the campaign.