While it is to his credit that Labour MP Des Turner is to support a Commons motion against the importation of exotic birds (Argus, February 5), what has the Government done to keep its promise made on this point in its leaflet published before the 1997 election, "New Labour - New Life For Animals"?

The leaflet, which bears a photo and the signed endorsement of Tony Blair, states that between eight and 20 million exotic birds are trapped in the wild each year.

Labour is against their import into Britain and supports calls for a European-wide ban on the import of caught wild birds. The only exceptions would be for breeding and conservation.

Since being elected, the Government, far from leading any moves to implement such a ban, has distanced itself, stating: "The UK Government considers a blanket ban to be inappropriate as this would conflict with a nation's sovereign right to use natural resources."

This is but one of more than 60 so-called promises made by Tony Blair and his party for improvements in animal welfare in the leaflet and, apart from one or two exceptions, the promises have all been broken or ignored.

-Norman Rayner, Crabtree Lane, Lancing