Today in the House of Commons after Questions to the Secretary of State for Health there is a motion to introduce a Bill to “amend section 33 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 to allow local authorities to proscribe, in certain circumstances, the transport of live animals for slaughter abroad via facilities that local authorities control and operate; and for connected purposes.”
I hope to be able to oppose this Bill not because I disagree with the principle but because for two reasons the Bill is a waste of Parliamentary time. Firstly, as this session is due to prorogue this week there is no time for further consideration of the Bill. Secondly, because of our membership of the European Union even if we amended the law as the Bill seeks to do it would not stop live animals being exported because of the effect of European Law.
After this the main business is about the new Universal Credit which has been scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
David Nuttall 