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 is taking to support the UK’s flour milling industry.

The Government values the contribution of the flour milling sector, with around 85 percent of wheat coming from home grown production, providing a stable, reliable market for British farmers. Domestic production supports arable farm viability and reduces exposure to international shocks. Government has made a firm commitment to the farming and food security.

Defra invests to support farmers and in turn strengthen the raw material base on which flour millers depend, including through Environmental Land Management schemes which reward sustainable practices and improve soil health and long-term productivity. These are designed to enhance the resilience and profitability of arable farmers, including in the cereals sector.

Defra invests in innovation and research to help farmers adopt more efficient and sustainable practices, such as precision agriculture and crop breeding.

Defra engages regularly with industry stakeholders, including the Milling sector. The UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group provides early warning of atypical market movements by tracking trends in prices, inputs, and trade.