To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the procurement of halal meat; and whether that guidance differentiates between stunned and pre-stunned meat. (287725)

The Department for Communities and Local Government has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the procurement of Halal meat. However, the Food Quality Standards, published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) in November 2008, offers guidance to public authorities on purchasing Halal food. The standards can be accessed using the following link:

http://www.ogc.gov.uk/food_food_quality_standards.asp