Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Monday, 17 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 January 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 27 January 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals slaughtered for (a) halal and (b) kosher meat were not stunned in the latest period for which figures are available. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals slaughtered for (a) halal and (b) kosher meat were not stunned in the latest period for which figures are available. [209746] Mr. Bradshaw: Information on the number of animals slaughtered for halal and kosher meat is not collected routinely. It has been gathered biennially by the Meat Hygiene Service on behalf of Defra, as part of the Animal Welfare Review. The latest Animal Welfare Review was published in March 2004. The review reports on one week of slaughtering practices. In the period 1-7 September 2003, the following animals were slaughtered without stunning. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Kosher Halal Cattle 726 -- Calves 16 -- Young lambs 1,704 5,141 Other sheep -- 11,454 Goats -- 62 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information