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Farmers alarmed over limits on migrant workers
The UK Government is to be asked to review restrictions on immigrant agricultural workers that could leave hundreds of tonnes of fruit and vegetables unpicked on Scottish farms this summer.
Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead is to write to UK Citizenship and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne to raise concerns about the decision to allow only 16,250 Bulgarians and Romanians into Britain through the seasonal agricultural workers scheme this year.
It had previously offered places for up to 25,000 for young people from across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union states.
The change has alarmed farmers, many of whom are already facing problems finding sufficient staff to harvest their crops. News of Mr Lochhead’s letter to the UK Government came in response to a question from SNP MSP Aileen Campbell in which she raised the concerns of farmers. The agricultural industry is already raising evidence to show the UK Government the difficulties its decision will cause.
Mr Lochhead told Ms Campbell the UK Government’s stance would have a clear impact on Scottish agricultural interests.
Ms Campbell welcomed Mr Lochhead’s intervention. She said: “I hope the UK Government will listen to his request, reconsider the limitations placed on this scheme and allow more seasonal workers into Scotland to support our fruit and veg industry. Growers have been warning for some time that they face a shortage of workers and that if action is not taken fruit and vegetables will be left in the fields rather than sold in the markets.
Ms Campbell called on the government to meet growers and to reconsider its actions.
Source: Press and Journal, by Joe Watson
27/05/2008
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