MPs back ban on battery hen eggs

A total of 93 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion which would prevent any taxpayer- funded organisation from using battery eggs. Keighley MP Ann Cryer and Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton among the signatories so far.

A ban on the use of battery hen cages is due to come into force in 2012 but the importation of eggs from countries still using the systems remains legal.

The Compassion in World Farming charity wants to make it illegal for schools, councils, care-homes and prisons to use them and instead wants to see higher welfare eggs used only, such as barn, free range and organic eggs.

The policy adviser for the charity,Peter Stevenson, said: "Many supermarkets, food service operators and food manufacturers no longer sell or use cage eggs or have committed to ending the sale or use of such eggs before 2012.

"It is unacceptable for public sector standards to be lagging so far behind those of the commercial world."

The Government's recent Healthier Food Mark scheme, piloted by the Department of Health, aims to recognise good practices in the public sector such as ethical and healthier eating. However it still permits the use of battery eggs, something the charity wishes to change.

The banning of cage systems for egg production has been a controversial issues, many farmers claiming the cash involved in scrapping the old system will be too much to bear.