§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the number and percentage of pigs which have to be re-stunned at slaughter; and what steps she is taking to reduce this number and percentage.
§ Mr. SoamesThere are no centrally held figures, although a MAFF-commissioned survey undertaken by Bristol university during the period 1989 to 1992 suggested that in the region of 13.5 per cent. of pigs were re-stunned. On 1 January this year two statutory codes of practice on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter came into force and the requirement for supervision by official veterinary surgeons was extended to all licensed slaughterhouses. In response to the survey results we have recently issued new comprehensive guidance to pig slaughterhouse operators and enforcement authorities on the electrical stunning of pigs. In addition, veterinary officers from this Department have been asked to pay particular attention to pig stunning and slaughter practices during their monitoring visits, and to report on the standards observed.