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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Animal and Plant Health Agency staff are based at the Port of Dover on average each day in 2023; and what facilities those staff have to investigate vehicles containing animals suspected of contravening regulations on (a) smuggling and (b) biosecurity in (i) the Port of Dover and (ii) the area surrounding the port.

On an average day in 2023, 12 Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) staff are based at the Port of Dover working across 2 shifts. They also cover weekends, bank holidays and nights by on-call duty, responding to referrals from carriers or UK Border Force. Targeted checks are also performed outside of the routine shifts when information gathered suggest illegal landing(s) are suspected.

APHA have use of an office building within Dover Port. APHA share other facilities within each Port to complete inspections on vehicles. The inspection lanes and sheds are muti-agency facilities which APHA has full access of. APHA do not own any kennel facilities to detain non-compliant animals, these are provided by private businesses in the form of kennelling and APHA approved quarantines.