§ 5. Mr. Nichollsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when Her Majesty's Government expect to be able to announce their conclusions on the Farm Animal Welfare Council report on July 1985 on ritual slaughter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Government are giving careful consideration to the Council's report and to the many comments which have been received on it from interested parties. The response will be issued as soon as possible.
§ Mr. NichollsDoes my hon. Friend agree that toleration of the rights of religious minorities is a mark of a civilised society, but that that toleration cannot be absolute? We now have a constructive report which was published as long ago as July 1985. Does she agree that, if people knew about ritual slaughter, the vast majority would find it abhorrent? Does she further agree that it is a problem which the Government will have to tackle sooner rather than later?
§ Mrs. FennerI assure my hon. Friend that I am mindful of the fact that the report is extremely important. We have received many comments and observations from a wide range of interested persons. We consult widely. I assure my hon. Friend that we are giving the matter the deepest consideration. We will take a decision and make our report just as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MacleanDoes my hon. Friend agree that it would be difficult to find many veterinarians in the country who would support this abhorrent practice? Does she further agree that agriculture has enough enemies without it being associated in the slightest with pandering to this barbaric practice?
§ Mrs. FennerThe issue has been debated in Parliament several times. The prevailing view has been that the religious requirements of the Jewish and Moslem communities should be respected in the absence of conclusive evidence that animals killed by religious methods suffer more than stunned animals. We now have this very important report. In view of decisions made by Parliament over many years, we recognise how important it is.