Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Nokes and Kirstene Hair

Monday 25th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Kirstene Hair (Angus) (Con)]

Part of the immigration White Paper covers seasonal workers. I warmly welcome the seasonal agricultural workers scheme that will be implemented this spring, but can the Minister assure me that she will continue to monitor it to ensure that it fulfils the industry’s requirements and that she will not rule out retaining it as a permanent process?

[Caroline Nokes]

I commend my hon. Friend for her enthusiasm and determination to see a seasonal workers scheme introduced. As she knows, the pilot starts this month and we are determined to work closely with the horticultural sector and those companies that are piloting the scheme to ensure that we evaluate it thoroughly and look for the best way to take it forward.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Nokes and Kirstene Hair

Monday 16th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Nokes]

We constantly keep the shortage occupation list under review and work closely with the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure that the appropriate occupations are indeed on that list.

[Kirstene Hair (Angus) (Con)]

My constituency grows more than 30% of Scotland’s soft fruit. Will the Home Secretary meet me so that I can discuss the issues that my local farmers are facing, and we can arrive at solutions sooner rather than later?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Nokes and Kirstene Hair

Monday 4th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Kirstene Hair (Angus) (Con)]

As my right hon. Friend will be aware, soft fruit farmers in Angus and across the United Kingdom are gearing up for a busy season. What assurances can he provide to those farmers that they will be able to access the workforce they require, and can he give a timescale for when that will be delivered?

[Caroline Nokes]

My hon. Friend has been consistent in making a very strong case for supporting the Scottish strawberry and, indeed, raspberry. I am conscious that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary visited her constituency recently and listened to some of her constituents’ views, and we are looking at the issue of seasonal workers very closely.