Carmichael demands government confirm funding for border food import checks

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the government to confirm future funding for the Dover Port Health Authority, to continue checks on food consignments coming across the border. Funding for border checks is due to expire at the end of March, having not been extended by the previous government.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, and raised the question following evidence to the committee about the adequacy of food import checks at UK border entry points. During the session Lucy Manzano, the head of the Dover Port Health Authority, said illegal meat, which has not been through proper health checks, was now available on “most high streets” in the UK.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“May I take the Secretary of State back to the subject of illegal meat imports? On Tuesday the Select Committee was told that at Dover this work, which covers only 20% of arrivals, is being done in live lanes, despite the fact that there is a border control post at Dover that is sitting unused, and the funding for Dover Port Health Authority is due to expire at the end of March. Can we at the very least sort out the financing of this for the next financial year?

Responding for the government, the Minister for Food Security, Daniel Zeichner MP said:

“I thank the Chair of the Select Committee for his question. The issues at Dover are significant and long-running. The funding was not resolved ahead of the general election, and there is an ongoing discussion. We are very aware of the challenges, but we are on it, and we will make sure that we are talking to those at Dover Port Health Authority.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“At the start of 2021 I spent more time than I would care to count helping isles seafood exporters to mitigate the consequences of Boris Johnson’s bungled Brexit deal. Whether it is for exporters or importers, failures in border checks can do enormous harm to our businesses and put public safety at risk.

“The head of the Dover Port Health Authority warned my committee that if funding is not secured before the end of March, food security checks at that border will be stopped. 

“I am encouraged that the minister appears to grasp the urgency of this issue and is in talks. It would be the height of madness for the government not to put that funding back in place. There is no good reason for them to delay making that commitment.”