Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sheep and Cattle Exports: Quarantine

Wednesday 13 September 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessment of quarantine periods for livestock export from Scotland to Northern Ireland was not directly addressed.
  • Northern Ireland livestock can move to Great Britain and return within 15 days if hosted at an approved assembly centre.
  • Meeting with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs colleagues will be arranged to discuss concerns.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Northern Ireland Scotland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the adequacy of quarantine periods for sheep and cattle exported from Scotland to Northern Ireland. He questions if current protocols are sufficient.

Question

What assessment has been made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of the quarantine period for (a) sheep and (b) cattle to be exported from Scotland to Northern Ireland?

Answer from Alister Jack

Livestock can move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, and then return to Northern Ireland, as long as they are hosted at an Animal and Plant Health Agency approved assembly centre and return within 15 days.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The adequacy of the quarantine period for livestock exported from Scotland to Northern Ireland was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Northern Ireland Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned that the Windsor framework has created unnecessary bureaucracy around livestock movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, particularly into Scottish markets. He believes this has decimated the pedigree cattle trade.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. Does he agree that the Windsor framework has created unnecessary bureaucracy around livestock movements from Northern Ireland to GB mainland, particularly into Scottish markets, and has in fact decimated our pedigree cattle trade? What can he do to help me?

Answer from Alister Jack

The hon. Gentleman is a doughty champion for rural communities in Northern Ireland, and he raises an important point. I will endeavour to arrange a meeting for him with colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as soon as possible.

Not addressed: The issue of unnecessary bureaucracy under the Windsor framework was not directly addressed.

How: Doughty Champion, Arrange A Meeting

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