Please find below a briefing note ahead of the Westminster Hall Debate on "Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme" (Neil Parish MP, Con, Tiverton and Honiton) on Thursday 6 July, 3:00pm.
Download briefing
Access to the EU labour market is vital for many farmers and producers and helps support the wider food supply chain. However, there is increasing concern about the ability of UK farmers and producers to recruit the workers they need at crucial times of the year and the Government should consider the reintroduction of a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme, or similar scheme.
Any new scheme, and our future work and travel arrangements with the EU, must include the requirements of related sectors such as game farming and forestry which are often just as dependent on seasonal workers as agriculture.