Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 114322

Livestock Industry: Migrant Workers

Tabled: 20 February 2026
Answered: 3 March 2026
Named Day

Question

Tony Vaughan

LabourFolkestone and Hythe

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending temporary concessionary visas for sheep shearers on sheep welfare.

Answer

Dame Angela Eagle
Defra recognises the importance that shearing sheep plays in managing the health and welfare of around 30m sheep in the UK flock, and the continued challenges that the industry faces each year in sourcing sufficient numbers of trained shearers. The depart...

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