WILLIAM WILBERFORCE AND THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY

That this House regrets that between 1782 and 1807 alone the UK traded in over 1,000,000 human lives; notes that 25th March 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of Royal Assent being granted to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act; recalls that the passing of this Bill by Parliament was the first step towards the abolition of slavery; upholds the comments made during the Bill's debates by the then Prime Minister, Lord Grenville, that the slave trade was `contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and sound policy'; deplores the fact that slavery and human trafficking still persist illegally in the world; celebrates the significant contribution made to the cause by many former hon. Members but especially William Wilberforce; and calls upon the Bank of England to design a new bank note bearing his image and celebrating the abolition of slavery.