Scottish Minister opposes ban on live animal exports
Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has warned that a potential ban on live exports of animals would do “substantial harm” to Scottish livestock, declaring he would not support it.
Ewing’s comments follow last week’s reports that the Government is “seriously considering” a ban, according to Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, who met Environment Secretary Michael Gove last week.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
Ewing has highlighted that any such move would “potentially do substantial harm to our quality livestock sector, not least farming in the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney, as well as trade with Northern Ireland”.
He added: “The Scottish Government will therefore not support the banning of live exports of livestock, but will remain committed to the welfare of all animals during transport adhering to the current rigorous standards which apply – standards and regulations provided by the EU, that are already world class and protect us all through animal, plant and chemical health measures and enabling our produce to be traded around the world.”
His comments follow a statement by Villiers last week which noted that, during her discussion with Gove regarding a Ten Minute Rule Bill she has tabled in Parliament, the Secretary of State expressed “sympathy with the concern felt about live exports” and reportedly told her “he is personally committed to restricting this trade”.
When urged to introduce a ban, Gove allegedly told Villiers that the Government is preparing proposals on live exports for consultation and is looking “very seriously at a ban”.
He is also said to have agreed to look into the idea of a ban as a potential addition to the Agriculture Bill, which the Government has pledged to bring forward.
Following her talks with Gove, Villiers postponed House of Commons’ consideration of her Ten Minute Rule Bill, adding that “it remains an option later this Parliamentary session if required”.
Villiers has been campaigning on live animal transport for more than 15 years since becoming involved with the issue, when she was a member of the European Parliament between 1990 and 2005.
In a previous statement, Defra had reiterated that the Government’s manifesto commits to controlling live exports, adding that the Secretary of State has been “clear we are considering all options, including a possible ban”.
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