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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department records skills gaps identified by rural enterprises applying for Government support.

Defra provides funding to rural businesses via the Rural England Prosperity Fund. The fund is devolved to local authorities, and each individual eligible local authority are responsible for running their own rounds of funding.

Defra does not record skills gaps identified by rural enterprises applying for Government support.