Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses were exported for slaughter in each of the last five years. [116455]

James Paice MP; Minister of State: While EU and domestic legislation permit the export of horses for slaughter, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has not received any applications for health certificates or export licences for horses declared as intended for slaughter in 2012, or for any of the preceding four years. Domestic legislation prohibits the export of ponies intended for slaughter.