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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning the slaughter of horses in abattoirs.

The Government is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare when animals are slaughtered or killed. Legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of horses when slaughtered. These requirements are monitored and enforced by Official Veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during the slaughter process.