Recommendations & Conclusions
4 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth report - Labour shortages in the…
Acknowledged
The evidence we have received leaves us in no doubt that labour shortages, caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic, have badly affected businesses across the food and farming sector. If not resolved swiftly, they threaten to shrink the sector permanently with a chain reaction of wage rises and …
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The evidence we have received leaves us in no doubt that labour shortages, caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic, have badly affected businesses across the food and farming sector. If not resolved swiftly, they threaten to shrink the sector permanently with a chain reaction of wage rises and price increases reducing competitiveness, leading to food production being exported abroad and increased imports. We are also extremely concerned about the impact this is having on the well-being and mental health of people working in the sector.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the impact of labour shortages and outlines measures taken to address the backlog of pigs, including Private Storage Aid, Slaughter Incentive Payment Schemes, temporary visas, and seeking new export markets.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
2
Conclusion
Fourth report - Labour shortages in the…
Acknowledged
While the whole food and farming sector has suffered from labour shortages, the situation for the pig sector has been particularly severe. Although the Government has taken measures to address the backlog of pigs on farms awaiting slaughter, the issue remains unresolved and the number of pigs being culled continues …
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While the whole food and farming sector has suffered from labour shortages, the situation for the pig sector has been particularly severe. Although the Government has taken measures to address the backlog of pigs on farms awaiting slaughter, the issue remains unresolved and the number of pigs being culled continues to rise. We were particularly disappointed by the Secretary of State’s attitude suggesting the current plight of pig farmers was simply the materialisation of a commercial risk for which businesses should be prepared. This ignores the covid-19 pandemic, for which nobody was prepared, but also the impact of the Government’s immigration policy. Since we took evidence, the sector has faced even greater pressure with feed prices rising as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the severity of the situation for the pig sector and outlines measures taken to address the backlog of pigs, including Private Storage Aid, Slaughter Incentive Payment Schemes, temporary visas, and seeking new export markets.
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
5
Conclusion
Fourth report - Labour shortages in the…
Acknowledged
The Government’s temporary short-term visa schemes for poultry workers, pork butchers and HGV drivers were seriously deficient. They were implemented too late, with many workers unable to arrive in time to help the sector prepare for Christmas and avoid poultry businesses reducing production. The schemes were not attractive Labour shortages …
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The Government’s temporary short-term visa schemes for poultry workers, pork butchers and HGV drivers were seriously deficient. They were implemented too late, with many workers unable to arrive in time to help the sector prepare for Christmas and avoid poultry businesses reducing production. The schemes were not attractive Labour shortages in the food and farming sector 35 due to the short notice and the very limited periods of time workers were allowed to work in the UK. We are therefore not surprised that the number of successful applicants was far below the number of visas available. The Government would be wrong to conclude the relatively low take-up meant that the sector’s concerns over labour shortages were exaggerated.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges limitations with existing datasets on the wider food and farming workforce, but states that they monitor labour market data in the horticulture sector especially closely.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
15
Conclusion
Fourth report - Labour shortages in the…
Acknowledged
The evidence we have taken leaves us in no doubt about the seriousness of the issues facing the food and farming sector caused by labour shortages. These include food security, animal welfare and the mental health of those working in the sector. In contrast, the Government has not demonstrated a …
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The evidence we have taken leaves us in no doubt about the seriousness of the issues facing the food and farming sector caused by labour shortages. These include food security, animal welfare and the mental health of those working in the sector. In contrast, the Government has not demonstrated a strong understanding of these issues, and even on occasion sought to pass the blame onto the sector on the basis of incorrect information about its own immigration system. The Government must radically shift its attitude and work together with the sector to devise solutions that speedily help address the problems it faces, in the short, medium and long-term to help the UK’s food industry and enable it to thrive. Failure to do so risks shrinking the sector and leading to higher food inflation at the price of the UK’s competitiveness, thereby making the country more reliant on food imports as we export our food production capacity—as well as the jobs it supports—abroad. (Paragraph 81) 38 Labour shortages in the food and farming sector
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's report and the importance of an innovative, productive, and competitive food supply-chain, and outlines steps they have taken to address labour shortages.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs