WELFARE OF BROILER CHICKENS

That this House notes that a recent report by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare has revealed that serious health and welfare problems are imposed on the chickens reared for their meat by intensive broiler chicken production; further notes that the Scientific Committee concludes that rapid growth rates lead to chickens suffering from leg disorders and heart failure; notes that the Scientific Committee stresses that stocking densities should be significantly lower than those commonly used in the United Kingdom if major welfare problems are largely to be avoided; further notes that the Scientific Committee concludes that the severe feed restriction to which many broiler breeders are subjected results in the birds being very hungry and in unacceptable welfare problems; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to press the European Commission to prepare as soon as possible a proposed directive to address the problems highlighted by the Scientific Committee.