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 help ensure the participation of Northern Ireland in the Pick For Britain recruitment plan.

Defra discussed with officials at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) regarding the plans for the Pick for Britain website and their thoughts on a future public facing campaign, to attract more seasonal workers from the UK. The feedback received was that DAERA was working closely with industry representatives in Northern Ireland and would use the existing Department for Communities website – JobCentre Online (JCOL) to advertise local opportunities. The website also provided a link to the Pick for Britain initiative.

We continue to work with Devolved Administrations and hold regular meetings in order to understand the labour needs and specific issues they may be facing.