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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) address the imbalance in the geographical distribution of abattoirs and (b) support small local abattoirs.

The number of small abattoirs in England and Wales has been falling as a result of consolidation in the retail sector and drive for greater efficiency and more costly requirements introduced to safeguard standards in abattoirs.

An adequate network of slaughterhouses nationwide is important in supporting livestock production in Britain and the government values the important role of smaller, more local abattoirs. There are currently a total of 257 abattoirs in England and they are distributed across all but two counties in England. The precise location of abattoirs is predominantly a commercial decision for Food Business Operators but the government monitors developments.