§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in connection with cruelty to animals in ritual slaughtering for meat; if he will list these representations in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Fenner:In recent months my Department has received a substantial number of representations regarding religious slaughter from members of the public and from organisations with an interest in animal welfare. A number of Members of this House have also made inquiries on behalf of their constituents. The representations cannot conveniently be detailed in the Official Report, but they have mostly been concerned with the welfare aspects of religious slaughter methods.
Parliamentary debates have always been inconclusive on the question of the possible suffering which may arise from different slaughter methods. Parliament has accordingly taken the view that, in the interests of religious tolerance, the Jewish and Muslim methods of slaughter should be permitted subject to the avoidance of unnecessary suffering. The Farm Animal Welfare Council is now considering the welfare of animals at the place of slaughter, and the Government will give full consideration to any recommendations which the council may make.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to amend section 36 of the Slaughter Houses Act 1974 to enable local authorities to have licensing powers over ritual slaughtering and thus, if they wish, to ban it within their area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Fenner:We have no plans to seek to amend the law in the manner suggested. Parliament has decided to permit certain religious slaughter methods in the circumstances described in the Act, and I am not aware of any reason for subjecting this national policy to local variation.