§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the concern of the public and organisations for the protection of animals against cruelty at the methods adopted for the slaughter of animals under the Muslim and Jewish religious procedures, whether he will introduce legislation in Great Britain to require pre-stunning before slaughter.
§ Mrs. FennerWhenever Parliament has considered this question it has always taken the view that, in the interests of religious tolerance and because it considered the evidence on suffering which may arise from different slaughter methods is inconclusive, certain religious slaughter methods should be permitted subject to the avoidance of unnecessary suffering. I have no immediate plans to seek amendments to relevant legislation, but I shall be considering carefully any recommendations which the Farm Animal Welfare Council may make following its current review of the welfare of animals at the place of slaughter.