To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on animal welfare-related initiatives in the last 12 months. (290352)

The administrative costs of the Animal Welfare Team in DEFRA were £1,153,087 for the 12 months from September 2008 to August 2009. During the same period, £767,151 was spent on animal welfare initiatives and delivery work. In addition, £2,963,372 was spent on animal welfare research and development in the 12 months from April 2008 to March 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the effect on the level of funding for his Department's animal welfare initiatives of the recession. (290353)

Ministers and officials keep the impact of the recession under review. No changes are considered to be necessary to the level of funding available for animal welfare initiatives.