Agriculture: Foreign Workers Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Teverson
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Agriculture: Foreign Workers
Lord Teverson Excerpts(7 years, 6 months ago)
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Lord Gardiner of Kimble
My Lords, that is one of the things we will want to look at as we leave the European Union.
Lord Teverson (LD)
My Lords, this is not about just seasonal workers or unskilled workers. As the Minister will know, some 80% of vets in our abattoirs, who enable them to operate with the right welfare standards, are EU citizens. How are we going to retain those skilled and much-required people who are currently keeping our food processing industry moving?
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
I am most grateful to the noble Lord because I was at the BVA and RCVS reception yesterday, where I know a number of noble Lords were also in attendance. This is an important issue and an element of the negotiations that we want to deal with as promptly as possible. Yes, we do rely on and warmly welcome the support we have from EU national vets, who are hugely important to us.