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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to restrict the routine use of tail docking and castration in lambs to exceptional circumstances under veterinary supervision.

The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.