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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on research on non-beak trimmed birds; and if she will make a statement.

Defra is working with the Beak Trimming Action Group, to find ways to manage laying hens without the need to beak trim. As part of this process, Defra has funded a study at the University of Bristol to assess the effectiveness of management strategies in reducing injurious pecking in non-beak trimmed laying hens. A review of all the evidence, including the outcome of the Bristol study, will be carried out later this year.