WESTMINSTER’S Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has reopened its call for evidence for its inquiry into Labour in the Food Supply Chain.
The inquiry, which launched in March, aims to determine the impact that a new ‘points based’ immigration system will have on the sectors most likely to be affected when the UK leaves the EU at the end of 2020.
The inquiry will also investigate how Government promises to invest in UK skills will compensate for the projected shortfall in workers from abroad.
Calling for more evidence from food producers, processors, workers’ unions, veterinary surgeons and the horticulture sector, the Committee noted that the difficulties presented by shortfalls in seasonal labour had been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it essential that possible issues be addressed before the UK leaves the EU in December.
In particular, the inquiry is keen to hear affected businesses’ answer sto the following questions:
• What impact will the Government’s proposed points-based immigration system have on labour in the food supply chain? Which sectors will be most affected by a reduced ability to recruit from abroad?
• Will investment in staff retention, productivity, technology and innovation compensate for the Government not implementing an immigration route for ‘lower skilled workers’?
• What impact has the Seasonal Workers pilot scheme had on agriculture and horticulture? What should be the future of the scheme, including whether it should cover more, or different, agricultural and horticultural sectors?
• How many seasonal workers are required in agriculture and horticulture each year, and how can this demand be reasonably met from 2021?
Evidence can be submitted via the Committee’s evidence portal at https://committees.parliament.uk/work/190/labour-in-the-food-supply-chain/
