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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned an independent assessment on the need for more animal rendering plants; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has no plans to commission an assessment on the need for more animal rendering plants.

The UK has around 40 rendering plants which perform an important role in protecting public and animal health. Decisions on the need for additional plants are guided by market demand and local planning policy.