§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from Wales in favour of stunning of animals prior to ritual slaughter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of livestock when slaughtered by religious methods included a recommendation that the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning should be prohibited within three years. The Department has received 77 representations from Wales in support of this recommendation. The report and all the comments made on it are presently under consideration.