Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Agricultural Labour

Wednesday 27 October 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are encouraging all sectors to rely on UK workers and have made 5,500 poultry workers eligible to enter the UK.
  • The Minister stated that the Government aim to level up the UK and increase wages for the workforce.
  • The Minister committed to listening carefully to the sector's concerns regarding access to seasonal and overseas workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from the concern that agricultural sectors are facing a shortage of labour, particularly affecting poultry and butchery workers.

Question

What assessment has been made of the availability of agricultural labour in Northern Ireland and its impact on the profitability and viability of that sector?

Answer from Conor Burns

We are moving to a high-wage, high-skilled economy and the Government are encouraging all sectors to rely increasingly on workers from the United Kingdom. However, we have listened to the concerns of the sector, making 5,500 poultry workers eligible to enter the UK for work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The impact on profitability and viability of agriculture in Northern Ireland is not addressed.

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Q2 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question follows concerns that the agriculture sector is unprepared for Brexit, particularly in terms of migration and skills shortages.

Question

It is all very well saying they are eligible to come in, but the industry is telling us its ability to deliver the food needed, especially for Christmas, is jeopardised by Government failure on both migration and skills. How can a passionate pro-Brexit Government be so ill-prepared?

Answer from Conor Burns

When people voted to leave the European Union, they wanted us to level up the United Kingdom and increase wages for the workforce. I wish he would join me in promoting Northern Ireland's agri and food sector, including companies such as Kennedy Bacon and Ballylisk Dairies.

Not addressed: The question about preparedness is not addressed; instead, emphasis is placed on economic benefits of leaving the EU.

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Q3 Theresa Villiers Con
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There is a long-standing dependency of agriculture on overseas workers, even before recent EU migration.

Question

For many years, agriculture in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has been very dependent on overseas workers. Will the Minister do everything he can to ensure that agriculture in Northern Ireland can still access the crucial seasonal and overseas workers needed for food supply resilience?

Answer from Conor Burns

My right hon. Friend speaks with great authority on these matters. There has been extensive engagement with the sector, and we are listening carefully to their concerns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A specific commitment to ensure access to overseas workers is not provided.

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