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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on beak trimming of laying hens; and if she will make a statement.

The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2010 restricts the method used for the routine beak trimming of laying hens to infra-red technology only.

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