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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising input costs on farms in West Dorset.

Food security is a priority for Government, and we are taking the impacts from developments from the Middle East conflict seriously. Defra is actively monitoring all risks across food supply chains, including regular engagement with industry, to identify emerging pressures and support preparedness.

Defra works closely with other departments to ensure food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.

This Government is taking decisive action to support farmers and fishers by cutting red diesel to its lowest rate in over 20 years, reducing the rates on red diesel by a third.