§ Lord Northfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many abattoirs have been agreed for the slaughter of deer; whether veterinary officers are invariably present at all stages of slaughter, including unloading; and how many infringements of this agreed code have been reported in the past year.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)Any licensed abattoir may slaughter deer but I understand that since January 1988 only five have done so. Although veterinary officers of the State Veterinary Service have not been able to be present on all occasions when deer have been slaughtered, they have monitored slaughter operations including unloading in all these abattoirs.
A record of individual infringements of the non-statutory code of welfare on abattoir slaughter of farmed deer is not maintained centrally. Advice on compliance with the code is given at the time of visits; where changes to practices are considered necessary, this is confirmed in writing and veterinary officials continue to monitor.