§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she intends to preserve the current effective ban on the live export of horses for overseas consumption. [179194]
§ Alun MichaelThe Government are not in favour of the live export of horses for slaughter and have worked closely with animal welfare organisations on this issue and to strengthen the welfare requirements for horses in transit. While there is no ban on the export of horses and ponies for slaughter and never has been, we will retain and 1427W continue to operate the current minimum values and licensing rules unless and until we succeed in obtaining EU-wide modern, welfare-based arrangements to protect horses and ponies.