Member

I remind the Committee that the Government view food security as national security and are committed to a resilient food supply chain. Defra continues to engage closely with industry, via a small abattoirs working group and a small abattoirs task and finish group, supporting it to identify practical solutions to tackle many of the key challenges that the industry faces, to which noble Lords have alluded, including challenges with the supply of skilled labour. The Government remain firmly committed to the farming sector. From 2026, we will invest £2.7 billion annually—the largest ever commitment to sustainable food production and nature recovery. We are simplifying and streamlining grant funding to make sure support delivers maximum impact for food security, nature and long-term resilience across the supply chain.