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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the level of shortages of (a) fishmongers, (b) butchers and (c) poultry processors in the UK.

This year Defra is working closely with industry to ensure that our sectors have the labour they need for 2021 and beyond. Defra is regularly speaking with industry and making use of all available information to understand the national labour supply picture. We will keep labour market data under very careful scrutiny to monitor any pressures in key sectors.

Fishmongers, butchers, and poultry processors are eligible for the Skilled Worker route under the points-based immigration system. The Skilled Worker route is open to all nationals who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of working in a skilled job they have been offered. Migrants need to meet mandatory criteria - a job offer from an approved sponsor, a job offer at the appropriate skills level, English language skills and criminality checks.

In 2021 and beyond, food and farming businesses will continue to be able to rely on EU nationals living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status. Over five million EU citizens and their families have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to date, and the application deadline is 30 June 2021.

The Government encourages all sectors to make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, careers options, wage increases and to invest in increased automation technology.