Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 115011

Sheep: Livestock Industry

Tabled: 23 February 2026
Answered: 3 March 2026

Question

Helen Morgan

Liberal DemocratNorth Shropshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Questions 112298 and 112296, what steps her Department is taking with the British sheep industry to help address workforce availability of sheep shearers.

Answer

Dame Angela Eagle
With a national flock of around 30m sheep, Defra recognises the importance that shearing sheep plays in managing the health and welfare of the UK flock. We acknowledge that industry faces continued challenges each year in sourcing sufficient numbers of tr...

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