Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Friday, 4 September 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 September 2015 (named day). It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Monday, 14 September 2015 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Livestock: Exports

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 to allow individual ports in the UK to refuse to export live farm animals.

Answer: The Harbour Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 aims to ensure that ports are available to all without discrimination. It would not be an appropriate legal instrument for port authorities to use to introduce an effective barrier to what is a legal trade. This has been demonstrated by a series of High Court judgements , the most recent being the High Court judgment in Barco de Vapor BV and others v Thanet District Council 2014 EWHC 490.

Secondary information