Colin Clark, MP reminded his colleagues of the practicalities of livestock production on Scotland’s islands during a debate on whether the UK should ban the export of live animals once the UK leaves the EU.

Over 90,000 people signed the e-petition calling for the UK Government to “plan legislation to ban the export of live farm animals in favour of a carcass-only trade” as soon as the UK leaves the EU, asserting that “the transport of live animals from the UK causes immense suffering”.

Clark advised the house that cattle and sheep moved from Shetland can be shipped for 12 hours on-board a purpose-built vessel.

“I would not want this debate to hide the fact that exporting animals can be – and is – done properly,” Mr Clark told the House.

“It is paramount, particularly for islands off Scotland, that we do not get it into our heads that exporting over water is somehow a significant or major problem,” Clark said.

The UK Government said it proposes “to take early steps to control the export of live animals for slaughter as we leave the EU” in its consultation paper on the future of food, farming and the environment, which was published this week.