To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008, Official Report, columns 1121-2W, on animal welfare, what progress has been made on drafting a protocol to take into account the views of religious communities when enforcing the requirements of animal health and welfare legislation. (207435)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: A draft protocol to underpin the handling of animal welfare cases in co-operation with the Hindu community has been prepared. This is currently being considered by members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The draft protocol sets out the way in which the beliefs of the Hindu community will be taken into account when enforcing animal welfare legislation and will apply to cattle in the care of the Hindu community at temples and similarly designated sacred sites. The protocol is intended to ensure that everyone involved understands how animal welfare legislation will be enforced in the future.

The draft will be reviewed in the light of the comments received and will then be sent to the organisations involved in the enforcement of the welfare provisions in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the wider Hindu community, for comment.