To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that veterinary surgeons who are required to destroy injured thoroughbreds on racecourses as part of their duties (a) have sufficient training and (b) are periodically assessed to ensure that their standard of competence is maintained. (242392)

DEFRA has no plans to ensure the competence of veterinary surgeons attending racecourses. Both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Horseracing Authority have rules in place which address this concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to require at least two means of humane despatch for an injured racehorse to be available immediately to the veterinary surgeon on duty at a racecourse. (242393)

DEFRA has no plans to introduce such a requirement. However, the British Horseracing Authority require that when racehorses need to be humanely destroyed, that the horse is either shot with a silenced weapon or that chemical means are used. The choice of which method should be used is a matter of professional judgment for the veterinary surgeon.