Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the export of unweaned calves for fattening after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government recognises there are concerns over the export of unweaned calves for fattening. The Government launched a call for evidence on improving animal welfare during transport after the UK leaves the EU, which included seeking information and evidence on the transport of unweaned animals. The call for evidence was issued on behalf of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. The call for evidence has now closed and we are currently analysing the responses. We will be discussing the evidence with the Devolved Administrations.

The Government and the Devolved Administrations have also asked the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) to look at what improvements could be made to the transport regulatory regime for all animals. We hope to receive the recommendations from the FAWC later in the year.