§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the proportion of animals which remain conscious after being stunned in slaughterhouses.[141194]
§ Mr. MorleyNo assessment has been made of the number of animals which remain conscious after being stunned in slaughterhouses, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) conducts a biennial review of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, and the latest review indicated that in 0.6 per cent. of slaughterhouses some bovines, and in 0.3 per cent. of slaughterhouses some sheep, were stunned ineffectively.
Legislation protecting the welfare of livestock at slaughter requires that any animal inadequately stunned must be re-stunned immediately. The legislation is monitored and enforced on a daily basis in licensed slaughterhouses by Official Veterinary Surgeons of the MHS.