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1659976

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support farmers experiencing seasonal worker shortages.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra continues to speak regularly with the sector and other government departments to understand labour supply and demand, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to make sure that these requirements are understood across government.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of a reliable source of seasonal labour for crop production, and that it is a key part of bringing in the harvest for the horticultural sector. A key source of seasonal labour is the Seasonal Worker visa route, which allows a pre-defined number of overseas workers to come to the United Kingdom for up to six months to support horticulture growers during peak production periods, whilst maintaining robust immigration control.</p><p> </p><p>To reduce the risk of seasonal labour shortages in horticulture, in December 2022, the Government announced that an allocation of 45,000 Seasonal Worker visas will be made available in 2023. This is an uplift of 15,000 visas compared to the allocation at the start of 2022. The Government confirmed at the Food Summit on 16 May that the number of Seasonal Workers visas available in 2024 for horticulture will again be 45,000. A further 2,000 visas are available for seasonal poultry workers to help manage pre-Christmas demand.</p><p /><p>A further 10,000 visas are potentially available for horticulture should there be demand and contingent on sponsors and growers continuing to improve worker welfare standards. There are visas available in this year’s allocation and businesses should contact one of the scheme operators if they need seasonal workers.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently six scheme operators for horticulture and two for poultry as follows:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agri-hr.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437471840%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QPPsUR16pQIe2Y0fnkUCobLxZ1hOG7ai2ANNcVp%2Fr98%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Agri-HR</a> (horticulture)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.concordia.org.uk%2Fseasonal-work&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437471840%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EaTin7XDJUhI4CkrQqta4xXgQ%2BNZtuYbVm0BGEfXVqc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Concordia</a> (horticulture)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fethero.co.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437471840%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=NBh413FI%2FMDFVeVcyoC%2FefzxtKlqDG6%2F7KM6C3eW63k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Ethero</a> (horticulture)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fruitfuljobs.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437471840%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=y1HLiU3MaUZcwUaywbgTMjC%2BmBAfZpBPTL8YSE5Te%2Bk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Fruitful Jobs</a> (horticulture)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hopslaboursolutions.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437627463%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=lkMbo5bmeOk0TiGHtjOpnRQti74KW668XptuPgfzNBM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">HOPS</a> (horticulture)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pro-force.co.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437627463%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=eDRBAa9kkVJ5GGzBRg5H3lGdu1OLZJ6rD%2Ft1JctDhJ0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Pro-Force Ltd</a> (horticulture and poultry)</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rerecruitment.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C14d94e8e0e664574497f08dbb50bc914%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638302834437627463%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kIy97WIGerwuIoVty4kjQGhf59DcZV8bviEqvCbnjrE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">RE Recruitment</a> (poultry)</p><p> </p><p>To inform future decisions on labour across the sector, Defra also commissioned John Shropshire to carry out an Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain throughout 2022 and 2023, considering how automation, domestic labour and migrant labour could contribute to tackling labour shortages in our sectors, including horticulture.</p><p> </p><p>This report was published on 30 June 2023 and the government response – which will also be informed by the Review of Automation in Horticulture – is expected to be published in autumn 2023. At the same time as the response, the Government will set out how it will support the sector to access the labour it needs alongside actions to reduce the sector’s reliance on migrant labour, including via our work on automation and promoting domestic labour procurement and training.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 18/09/2023 14:14:16 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1628904

registered interest
date	18/05/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) growers and (b) growers associations on the potential merits of extending the length of the seasonal workers visa for the harvesting of crops which have a longer growing season than six months.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
uin	185852
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>Defra holds regular discussions and roundtable events with growers and growers associations.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers met with industry stakeholders, including growers, at the Farm to Fork Summit on 16 May at which the Government confirmed that the number of Seasonal Worker visas available in 2024 for horticulture will again be 45,000 (plus 2,000 for poultry), with the potential for a further 10,000 visas if necessary, contingent on sponsors and growers improving and abiding by worker welfare standards as previously agreed.</p><p> </p><p>The Seasonal Worker visa route was designed to support horticulture growers in the UK during peak production periods, whilst maintaining robust immigration control. It allows horticultural businesses to recruit foreign workers for up to six months to work in both the edible and ornamental sectors. It was not designed to meet the full labour needs of the horticulture sector nor to be a source of permanent labour.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the Seasonal Worker visa, which is applied for outside the UK and lasts for six months or less, incurs no NHS surcharge of £624 per year, unlike a nine month or longer visa which would incur this cost to seasonal workers.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/05/2023 14:31:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1640265

registered interest
date	18/05/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Seasonal Worker visa on the adequacy of the number of people available to fill seasonal farming roles.
tabling member constituency	South East Cornwall
tabling member printed	Mrs Sheryll Murray
uin	905132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2023 answer text <p>This Government is committed to ensuring that the farming sector has the labour it needs to support food security, including supporting domestic workers and skills, and investment in automation.</p><p> </p><p>We commissioned the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain to consider how we can further support this, and look forward to receiving the report by the summer.</p><p> </p><p>As set out at the recent UK Farm to Fork Summit, we will make 45,000 Seasonal Worker visas available for 2023 and 2024, with an additional 10,000 if needed.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 905133 question first answered 25/05/2023 12:09:49 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4100 label Biography information for Mrs Sheryll Murray

1628525

registered interest
date	17/05/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of how the cost of any difference in the usage of utilities by workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme can be (a) accounted for and (b) passed on to workers; and if she will publish further guidance for employers on the usage of utilities by workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	185644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2023 answer text <p>While individual farm businesses are responsible for charging seasonal workers for their usage of utilities, approved scheme operators must comply with requirements outlined in the sponsor guidance. This includes ensuring farm businesses with whom they have placed workers do not impose additional, unnecessary charges on workers, whether directly or indirectly. The new team within the Home Office compliance network will focus specifically on farm businesses in this sector and ensure sponsors are adhering to this guidance and fulfilling their sponsorship responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 22/05/2023 16:25:49 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1604038

registered interest
date	14/03/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to update the list of named sponsors on the notice entitled Seasonal worker visa route RFI notice, published by her Department on 27 June 2022.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	165226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Current operators of the Seasonal Workers visa route are listed in the register of licensed sponsors: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fregister-of-licensed-sponsors-workers&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMartin.Quadroy%40defra.gov.uk%7Ce151b00e6f7b43b7453608db25546406%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638144816607540935%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=eCE82AjeItrKuxA8163Cut0z6uYZfLdo6oarJDlJvQ4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We will we updating the RFI Notice webpage in the next few months.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 21/03/2023 11:22:40 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1604039

registered interest
date	14/03/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the guarantee of a minimum of 32 hours of work every week for people on the seasonal worker visa scheme will be measured (a) on a weekly basis and (b) over a longer period of time; and what steps her Department will take to (i) monitor and (ii) enforce this guarantee.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	165227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Sponsors and employers will need to ensure workers on the Seasonal Workers visa route are paid a minimum of 32 hours per week. This must be reflected in payslips covering the pay period for each worker.</p><p> </p><p>A team within the Home Office compliance network will focus specifically on the agricultural sector and ensure sponsors are adhering to guidance and fulfilling their sponsorship responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 21/03/2023 11:28:46 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1600283

registered interest
date	01/03/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February to Question 146809 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, who is responsible for the welfare of seasonal workers who no longer have a scheme operator due to the removal or suspension of their licence.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	156076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2023 answer text <p>The welfare of the people using our visa schemes is always of paramount importance to us, including in the Seasonal Worker scheme.</p><p>In the event that a scheme operator for the Seasonal Worker routes became unlicensed for any reason, the Home Office will consider each case on its own merits and tailor its response accordingly. Defra will, where appropriate, support the Home Office in delivering this response. We do not comment on specific cases.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/03/2023 16:26:50 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1600089

registered interest
date	28/02/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2023 to Question 146808 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, if she will make an assessment of the accuracy of the register of licensed sponsors.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	155038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2023 answer text <p>The licensed sponsors for all work immigration routes are listed on the Register of Licensed Sponsors: www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers.</p><p>This is updated every day to ensure accuracy.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/03/2023 12:07:57 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1600090

registered interest
date	28/02/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to publish increased transparency data on the seasonal worker visa scheme.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	155039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2023 answer text <p>The government will continue to provide transparency of the Seasonal Worker visa route.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Home Office will soon jointly publish information about the annual surveys of workers undertaken in 2020 and 2021, and information about the visa route covering these same years later in 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office already publishes quarterly immigration statistics on GOV.UK, and the government published a review of the first year of the seasonal workers pilot in 2019 Seasonal workers pilot review 2019 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>).</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 155040 question first answered 08/03/2023 12:02:17 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1600091

registered interest
date	28/02/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the transparency of the seasonal worker scheme.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	155040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2023 answer text <p>The government will continue to provide transparency of the Seasonal Worker visa route.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Home Office will soon jointly publish information about the annual surveys of workers undertaken in 2020 and 2021, and information about the visa route covering these same years later in 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office already publishes quarterly immigration statistics on GOV.UK, and the government published a review of the first year of the seasonal workers pilot in 2019 Seasonal workers pilot review 2019 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>).</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 155039 question first answered 08/03/2023 12:02:17 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd