To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the correspondence from Mr. Richard D. Hall of Blaydon on animal mutilation phenomena. (321206)

DEFRA and its agency, Animal Health, received several items of correspondence from Mr. Hall between May and September 2009, both directly and through my hon. Friend. I replied to my hon. Friend on 19 October, 2009 and regret the intervening delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the use of bolt guns to end the life of (a) domestic animals and (b) livestock; and if he will make a statement. (322281)

In the last six months we have received three letters from members of the public and 15 from Members of Parliament on behalf of constituents regarding the use of bolt guns to end the lives of domestic animals. We have received no such letters on the use of bolt guns on livestock.