Abattoirs: CCTV

Lord Pearson of Rannoch Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd November 2010

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Henley Portrait Lord Henley
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My Lords, obviously I offer my congratulations to Morrisons because we would encourage all owners of abattoirs to install CCTV if that is necessary. However, I stress to my noble friend that although I have not seen the film, we do not condone animal cruelty of any sort. We will ensure that all allegations of the ill treatment of animals are fully investigated and, where necessary, prosecutions are made.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch Portrait Lord Pearson of Rannoch
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My Lords, if that is so, should not those of us of the Christian culture, with our attendant laws for animal welfare, understand the practice of halal slaughter, and also be told when we may be eating that meat and therefore supporting the practice?

Lord Henley Portrait Lord Henley
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My Lords, I believe that that is another Question, but I can say that we have no plans whatever to make the practice of halal or kosher killing illegal. However, we think that it is worth considering the appropriate labelling of all meat so that people know exactly what it is that they are eating and how the meat has been killed.