Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will ban non-stun animal slaughter.

We are clear that animals must be stunned before slaughter unless they are being slaughtered for religious purposes. The law enables people of Jewish or Muslim faith to eat meat killed in accordance with their religious beliefs. There are strict rules to provide the maximum possible protection to animals subject to religious slaughter.