Skip to main content

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of the effect on (a) the Scottish fruit industry and (b) seasonal agricultural workers of changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme; (218208)

(2) what representations her Department has received from the Scotland Office on changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

I have received representations from the Scottish branch of the National Farmers Union and there are ongoing discussions between the Home Office and stakeholders on this issue. I am aware that some employers are reporting difficulties attracting migrants from the 2004 EU accession countries and we will continue to monitor the situation. However, it remains the Government’s policy that labour needs skills at lower skill levels can be met from an expanded EU labour force. It is consistent with the principle of Community preference that the SAWS remains open only to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania while restrictions on nationals of those countries’ access to the labour market remain in force.