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 micro-abattoirs.

I recognise the role smaller operators play in meeting the needs of local supply chains and Defra is committed to work across Government to support the whole abattoir sector - including micro abattoirs - to sustain a network of slaughtering provision across the country.

The issues faced by small and micro abattoirs are varied and complex. As such, Defra chairs a Small Abattoir Working Group with representatives from industry and the wider sector to address such challenges.

In relation to micro-abattoirs, the Food Standards Agency are exploring ways in which existing flexibilities in regulations can be best utilised by smaller operators in supporting their operations.