To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural workers entered the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the number who will do so in 2009; and if he will make a statement. (263905)

I have been asked to reply.

The number of agricultural workers who entered the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) in the last three years is as follows:

This is against an agreed quota for each year of 16,250.

On the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) the quota for 2009 has been increased to 21,250. There is expected to be a full uptake of this quota.

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.