The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee today took evidence from Caroline Nokes MP, Minister for Immigration, Home Office, and George Eustice MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Following the session, Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said:

“The agricultural industry is reaching a crisis point. The UK’s food and agricultural sectors are hugely reliant on foreign labour. This is unsustainable, food has been left to rot in the ground this year due to labour shortages.”

“There has clearly been a breakdown in communication between Defra and the Home Office over the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). In February, Michael Gove has stated that an announcement over SAWS would be made ‘shortly’, but today we have heard that it is unlikely to happen in 2018. This is simply not good enough.

“My Committee has little confidence that real action is being taken to resolve this problem. 2020 is simply too late to put an agricultural workers scheme in place. Businesses and workers need clarity now. 

“The Home Office and Defra should take the SAWS seriously, and action should be taken at the earliest possible moment. The Government is consulting widely, but now is the time for action not more reports.”