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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average time it takes for an unstunned (1) sheep, and (2) cow, to die after having their throat cut in a UK slaughterhouse.

No such assessment has been made.

When an animal is slaughtered without stunning, in accordance with religious rites, it must not be moved in any way until it is unconscious and, in any event, not before the expiry of 20 seconds for sheep and 30 seconds for cattle from the neck cut. These “standstill” times are to ensure the animal is unconscious and insensible so it can be moved and are not related to the time it may take for the animal to die.

All slaughterhouses in England, including those where religious slaughter takes place, must have CCTV in place in all areas where live animals are present.