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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with animal welfare charities on the use of CO2 in pig slaughter.

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs.

In developing the animal welfare strategy, Defra has held meetings with representatives of the farming sector and with animal welfare charities.