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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will hold discussions with animal welfare groups on commissioning an independent assessment on the installation of CCTV cameras inside UK slaughterhouses to deter illegal practices.

An independent assessment is currently being carried out by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee. The Government is waiting for their report, which is due at the end of year. We will look at options in the light of that report.