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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the concerns raised by representatives of the farming, veterinary, animal welfare, and food sectors in their letter to the Prime Minister, dated 19 October 2026, regarding the decline of small and local abattoirs in the United Kingdom; and what plans they have to safeguard the future of this infrastructure.

Defra engages regularly with representatives from the small and medium-sized abattoir sector through formal groups to understand the challenges facing the industry and consider what support may be required. This engagement has informed work on issues including regulatory flexibilities, labour and workforce challenges, and animal by-product management, helping support a resilient and sustainable abattoir sector.