Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Seasonal Worker Visas 2026-07-13

Monday 13 July 2026 · 2 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

  • Ministerial recognition of the need for timely announcement of seasonal worker visas for agriculture planning.
  • Government commitment to supporting the UK horticulture sector.
  • Minister pledges to work closely with DEFRA to ensure timely visa number announcements for farmers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Josh Fenton-Glynn Lab
Immigration Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP noted the importance of timely visa number announcements for enabling agricultural planning. The farming community relies on accurate information to prepare for seasonal labour needs.

Question

When she plans to announce the number of seasonal worker visas available for 2027.

Answer from Mike Tapp

This Government recognise the importance of a prompt announcement on visa numbers to enable the agriculture industry to plan and prepare. The Government are committed to supporting the UK horticulture sector, but it is important that the sector reduces its ongoing reliance on significant numbers of seasonal workers from overseas. We are engaging closely with the sector and other stakeholders, and will announce the number of seasonal worker visas available for 2027 shortly, in line with usual practice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Announcement date not specified

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Q2 Josh Fenton-Glynn Lab
Immigration Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP, during a fellowship with the National Farmers' Union, observed that visa number announcements come too late to plan properly. He cited the need for seasonal workers in domestic agriculture.

Question

I am currently taking part in the excellent National Farmers' Union food and farming fellowship. On a recent visit to a vegetable farm, I was told that the numbers of seasonal worker visas are announced far too late in the farming cycle for farmers to be able to plan in advance. If we are to have domestic agriculture, we are going to need some seasonal workers. Will the Government look at working with the industry so that we can plan in advance and actually run our farms and agriculture sector properly?

Answer from Mike Tapp

I thank my hon. Friend for his important question. I will ensure that we work closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs—we already do—in engaging with the sector to ensure that the announcement on numbers is timely, as it needs to be, so that farmers can plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline not provided

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