Mr President, the last debate you had at the last part-session in this House was on the transport of live animals. Back in 1990 this House almost unanimously agreed that the maximum journey time for animals destined for slaughter should not exceed eight hours. Today there is a meeting of Agricultural Ministers in Brussels who are deciding on the maximum journey time. They are talking about 20 hours, but not 20 hours as the maximum journey time but 20 hours before feeding and watering and a further 20 hours before feeding and watering and a further 20 hours before feeding and watering.

Can this House send an urgent message today to the Council in Brussels to the effect that it has sincerely debated this issue and has decided by a huge majority in favour of the eight hour rule? I am told that the obstacle has been the lack of a unanimous report by the Commission's veterinary science committee. I think there is little that is scientific about that committee. It is more political than scientific.

(Applause)