Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on (a) worker shortages in Scotland and (b) the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.

Ministers from this Department are in regular contact with counterparts from the Home Office on a range of matters affecting Scotland, including labour market issues.

The UK Government recently announced that the Seasonal Agricultural Worker visa route has been extended until the end of 2024, to allow migrant workers to come to the UK for up to six months to pick both edible and ornamental crops.

Further information is available online:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/industry-given-certainty-around-seasonal-workers-but-told-to-focus-on-domestic-workforce