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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to assess the potential merits of introducing an emergency support package for the sector, in the context of a backlog of pigs causing welfare issues on farms.

Defra is carefully considering proposals put forward by pig sector representatives, alongside the available evidence and ongoing engagement with industry.

Defra’s ongoing engagement has not identified a pig backlog causing welfare issues on farms at present. Officials will continue to work closely with the sector.