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

To ask His Majesty's Government why the reduction of animals being subjected to non-stun slaughter is not an objective in their Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025.

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

An industry-led initiative called the Demonstration of Life Protocol, which the Government supports, provides assurance for Muslim consumers that the stunning of sheep and goats is compatible with halal slaughter requirements, while protecting the welfare of the animals involved and supporting opportunities for trade.