DO readers know that part of the tax that they pay is being used, each year, to subsidise the export of around 200,000 live cattle from the European Union to the Middle East?

The animals suffer stressful sea journeys lasting ten days only to be slaughtered in horrendous conditions.

On average, 175 Euros (around £120) is paid for each animal exported, not to the farmer who has reared them, but to the dealer who exports them. The dealers profit from this trade because the EU subsidises it using 60m Euros (over £40 million) from our taxes.

Instead of unwittingly sudsidising such an abhorrent trade we should be supporting small farmers, promoting the welfare of animals and working towards a trade in meat and not live animals.

Compassion In World Farming www.ciwf.org is trying to get this trade stopped. CIWF member, Bromsgrove