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1189362

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2020
	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: Migrant Workers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have agreed with the government of Romania about Romanian agricultural workers coming to the UK; what checks for COVID-19 were required on such workers before they joined outbound flights; what social distancing arrangements were required on the flights in terms of  the number of (1) passengers, and (2) seats; whether such workers in the UK have access to health services in the same way as UK workers; whether those workers are covered by national minimum wage rules; whether such Romanian workers will be required to leave the UK at the end of the summer harvest period; and if so, who will fund their return travel costs.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL3005
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>Workers are able to continue to come to the UK under the key worker category “Food and other necessary goods”.All flights coming to the UK must follow the current UK policy relating to the delay phase of the current COVID-19 outbreak. All passengers on entry to UK must follow the government’s social distancing guidance as per GOV.UK website available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others</a></p><p> </p><p>Various airlines and airports have implemented social distancing measures, by making reasonable adjustments. For example the following social distance adjustments are in the process of implementation at many airports, wherever possible: opening additional staff search areas; altering security lane opening plan to leave space between lanes; ensuring only one passenger at a time waiting to go into the body scanners; floor markings placed at bag search areas to ensure people maintain a safe distance whilst their bag is being searched; more colleague parking to reduce the number of people on public transport.</p><p> </p><p>Any individual who is ill and showing signs of COVID-19 should not be allowed to board a flight to the UK.</p><p> </p><p>All flights to the UK are required to provide health announcements to passengers relating to the current COVID-19 outbreak. In the event that there is a seriously unwell passenger, information must be reported to the relevant airport in line with standard operating procedure, and to the PHE (Public Health England) Health Control Unit at London Heathrow (LHR). If the unwell passenger has COVID-19 like symptoms then on arrival they will be advised to self-isolate for 7 days and if symptoms worsen to call NHS 111. All passengers will be provided with information leaflets on arrival in the UK about following government's social distancing guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Employers of those travelling on flights are applying additional measures for workers prior to and following arrival into the UK, including isolation, temperature checks and social distancing during travel.</p><p> </p><p>In accordance with transition arrangements with other EU countries on healthcare, workers are able to access medical assistance during their time in the UK should this be required. If migrant workers from EU countries fall ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) while in the UK they will not have to pay for diagnosis or treatment, this includes if they are tested and the result is negative.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses must comply with current UK employment law, including pay for workers in line with National Minimum Wage rules.</p><p> </p><p>Any individuals working in the UK will be able to return home at any time, subject to the home country border restrictions. Flight costs will be paid for by the worker and in line with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) regulations.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 06/05/2020 16:41:52 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1625882

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2023
	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: Migrant 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 recent assessment her Department has made of the living and working conditions of migrant farm workers.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	183940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office sponsor licence regime places a broad range of responsibilities on the operators of the Seasonal Workers visa route to safeguard migrant workers under the scheme, including protecting their rights and ensuring effective enforcement of UK employment laws.</p><p> </p><p>The Government keeps these protections under close and ongoing review. A new team within the Home Office compliance network focuses on ensuring sponsors are abiding by workers’ rights by improving training and processes for compliance inspectors and creating clear policies and guidance for robust action for scheme operators where workers are at risk of exploitation. Should any of the selected operators fall short in these duties action will be taken, up to and including the revocation of their sponsor licence.</p><p>The Home Office and Defra maintain regular contact with scheme operators to ensure that they adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers. All Seasonal Worker visa route operators are also required to hold a Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) licence, as a condition of maintaining their role as a scheme operator. The responsibilities and remit of the GLAA are set out on their website.</p><p>Defra continues to speak regularly with the agricultural sector including on matters relating to the welfare of seasonal workers. Defra also conducts an annual survey of workers, providing them with a route to provide direct feedback to us on their experience while working here including their living and working conditions. In addition, Defra officials engage with the industry and non-profit organisation led Seasonal Worker Taskforce, which focuses on practical actions to improve the responsible recruitment and employment of migrant workers into UK farms.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 183941 question first answered 15/05/2023 09:03:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1625883

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2023
	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: Migrant 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 recent discussions her Department has held with agricultural producers on the living and working conditions of migrant farm workers who live on-site.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	183941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office sponsor licence regime places a broad range of responsibilities on the operators of the Seasonal Workers visa route to safeguard migrant workers under the scheme, including protecting their rights and ensuring effective enforcement of UK employment laws.</p><p> </p><p>The Government keeps these protections under close and ongoing review. A new team within the Home Office compliance network focuses on ensuring sponsors are abiding by workers’ rights by improving training and processes for compliance inspectors and creating clear policies and guidance for robust action for scheme operators where workers are at risk of exploitation. Should any of the selected operators fall short in these duties action will be taken, up to and including the revocation of their sponsor licence.</p><p>The Home Office and Defra maintain regular contact with scheme operators to ensure that they adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers. All Seasonal Worker visa route operators are also required to hold a Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) licence, as a condition of maintaining their role as a scheme operator. The responsibilities and remit of the GLAA are set out on their website.</p><p>Defra continues to speak regularly with the agricultural sector including on matters relating to the welfare of seasonal workers. Defra also conducts an annual survey of workers, providing them with a route to provide direct feedback to us on their experience while working here including their living and working conditions. In addition, Defra officials engage with the industry and non-profit organisation led Seasonal Worker Taskforce, which focuses on practical actions to improve the responsible recruitment and employment of migrant workers into UK farms.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 183940 question first answered 15/05/2023 09:03:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1195589

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Migrant Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it is his policy that workers from Romania brought to the UK by the Government to work in food production will be guaranteed the minimum wage.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	46661
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to fair pay by ensuring workers are paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW).</p><p> </p><p>Migrant workers who work in the UK are entitled to the NMW rate relevant to their age. Anyone concerned about underpayment of the NMW should call <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/glossary/?gl=76" target="_blank">Acas</a>’s confidential helpline on 0300 123 1100 or visit <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/nmw" target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/nmw</a>. HMRC will look into every complaint it receives.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 21/05/2020 14:45:43 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali