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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Border Force, the Animal and Plant Health agency and Port Health Authorities on strengthening control against illegal meat imports.

Defra officials have been engaging regularly with Border Force, the Food Standards Agency, Port Health Authorities, other Government departments and the Devolved Governments over the past year to strengthen controls against illegal imports of animal products. The Animal and Plant Health Agency is an agency of Defra and has also been involved. These discussions form the routine mechanism through which the Secretary of State is kept informed of operational progress, and they will continue as part of the standard model for developing and enhancing controls.