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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) existing and (b) the creation of new local abattoirs.

The Government firmly believes that food security is national security and is committed to maintaining a resilient food supply chain. Defra recognises the vital contribution a thriving abattoir network plays in achieving this goal. We remain committed to working with abattoirs of all sizes across the UK’s meat processing sector in tackling the challenges and opportunities they face.