– in the House of Commons at 2:04 pm on 4 February 2000.
Gwyn Prosser
Labour, Dover
2:29,
4 February 2000
I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
More than 20,000 sheep packed into lorries pass through my Constituency every week. Each truck carries the potential for great suffering. My constituents have put up with that for many years. However, I do not come to this vexed subject just as the Member of Parliament for Dover, but as an ex-seafarer who has witnessed the awful abuse associated with live animal exports close up in the blistering heat of the Arabian gulf and the storm-torn seas of the English channel and the Irish sea. The trade inflicts great suffering on living creatures and has no legitimate part to play in a civilised caring society. My Bill would ban the export of live animals—
Alan Haselhurst
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means
Order.
It being half-past Two o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.
Debate to be resumed on Friday 7 April.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
A Member of Parliament (MP) is elected by a particular area or constituency in Britain to represent them in the House of Commons. MPs divide their time between their constituency and the Houses of Parliament in London. Once elected it is an MP's job to represent all the people in his or her constituency. An MP can ask Government Ministers questions, speak about issues in the House of Commons and consider and propose new laws.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
