Public to have their say on non-stunned halal meat ban

A CONSULTATION into the provision of nonstunned halal meat across Rossendale schools, including Whitworth, will run until next week.

Lancashire County Council (LCC) is asking the public for its views.

Councillors voted in favour of the ban on unstunned halal meat at a full meeting of the council last October, but the decision was challenged by the Lancashire Council of Mosques. At present, LCC supplies nonstunned halal meat to 27 schools, and the decision came after the existing contract came up for renewal.

In their statement, the council said: “The online consultation is available for anyone to complete, and asks for views on the council’s proposal to provide only stunned halal meat to schools rather than the current policy, to provide both stunned and non-stunned halal meat.”

Abdul Hamid Qureshi, CEO of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said he saw no need to change the policy agreed in 2012 giving schools a choice.

He said: “They should have consulted with us and the Jewish community. This is an issue of faith, but we do also think that stunning animals before slaughter is cruel.”

David Foxcroft, county councillor for MidRossendale, said: “I think that this decision and the reason for the consultation is so that we can look at all the thoughts of every group on this issue, to come to a decision that is best for everyone.”

The consultation is available at www. lancashire.gov.uk/ haveyoursay and runs until March 7.