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		Labour fail to support animal welfare improvements Thursday, 25th November 2004 This week Agricultural Ministers from across Europe met in Brussels to discuss stricter animal welfare rules for the transportation of live animals. However, the UK Government failed to improve conditions further, arguing that proposed rules to improve condition for animals should be watered down. The Labour Government failed to support plans that would have reduced journey times for animals, nor did they support plans that would have reduced the volume of animals that can be transported in one container at any one time. East Midlands MEP, Roger Helmer, said: "At the moment animals can travel in overcrowded lorries across Europe for hours on end in terrible conditions. However, the chance to limit journey times and reduce stocking densities has not been tackled and will not be looked at again for at least four years. I am very disappointed that the Government did not argue to put these two items on the agenda for the UK presidency of the EU which starts next autumn. The chance has now been lost to reduce animal suffering for at least four years. This is unacceptable. How can Labour MEPs defend their Government over this failure?"