§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses were(a) slaughtered for meat and (b) exported for slaughter in the last year for which figures are available. [157264]
§ Alun MichaelIn 2003, 6,727 horses were slaughtered in licensed red meat slaughterhouses in England. I am advised that no live horses were exported for slaughter in 2003.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs who will administer the National Equine Database. [156653]
§ Alun MichaelThe National Equine Database will be jointly administered by industry and Defra though the precise mechanism has yet to be decided.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to revoke the minimum values legislation; [156664]
(2) if she will amend the minimum values legislation to prevent the export of live horses for slaughter. [156665]
1162W
§ Alun MichaelI wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November 2003 explaining our intention to review the minimum values legislation in the light of proposed changes to the European directive on the welfare of animals during transport. There appears to be some misapprehensions about the existing legislation which has been in place for many years. The minimum values legislation applies to certain types of working horse (but only if they are exported for work) and to ponies. It does not apply to other horses. We have considered carefully whether we could ban the export of horses for slaughter but this would be inconsistent with the approach taken consistently by successive Governments and we believe that we cannot restrict the free movement of horses which is why our focus has been on achieving improved regulation in the UK and across Europe to reduce cruelty and improve the welfare of animals during transport.