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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of any shortfall in seasonal workers in (1) the horticultural sector, and (2) other forms of agriculture, in each month of this year between April and October; and what steps they are taking to prevent a shortfall in future years.

It is a key priority of this Government to enable an innovative, productive and competitive food supply chain, and we understand the sector’s concerns about securing the workforce it needs for the future.

Defra does not collect data on any shortfall in the recruitment of seasonal workers, either in the horticulture sector or for the agriculture sector as a whole. However, we have continued to work closely with the industry to understand their labour demand and supply this year.

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. The Home Office has also commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee earlier this year to assess the role EU nationals play in the UK economy, including farming.