Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that farmers have access to a sufficient number of workers to work in the horticultural industry after the UK leaves the EU.

It is a key priority of this Government to enable an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain which invests in its people and skills.

Defra Ministers have ongoing discussions with a range of government departments, including the Home Office, about securing the workforce that the farming industry, needs for the future.

After we leave the EU, we must have an immigration system which works in the best interests of the UK – controlling immigration whilst continuing to welcome those who make an invaluable contribution.

For the longer-term the Government has commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to assess the role that EU citizens play in the UK economy and society.