Livestock Industry: Seasonal Workers
Commons · Question 114615 · Tabled 20 Feb 2026 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Question
Asked by Gregory Stafford
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to help ensure that UK sheep farmers have sufficient access to skilled seasonal shearers for the 2026 shearing season.
Answer
Answered by Dame Angela Eagle, 3 Mar 2026
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...