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Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

First Special Report: The UK’s new immigration policy and the food supply chain: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2019–21

Published 14 May 2021

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Labour in the food supply chain Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance

The government's response

This document responds to Third Report - The UK’s new immigration policy and the food supply chain.

This is the government's response, published 14 May 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government says it agrees with the Committee on carefully monitoring the effect of the new immigration system on food supply chain labour, and sets out policy developments and continued work in response.

  • On food prices, it says establishing "a credible link between the price of food and labour supply is not always possible", but Defra is "committed to working throughout 2021" to scrutinise relevant labour supply data.
  • On fees, it states the current UK visa fee schedule "offers good value", and that the Home Office keeps fees under review. It notes the Home Office announced its final decision on the Shortage Occupation List recommendations on 4 March.
  • On seasonal workers, it says the 2021 Seasonal Workers Pilot, with 30,000 visas, will operate in support of the edible horticulture sector only, with two additional pilot operators being established.
  • On automation, it commits to Defra leading a review into automation in horticulture this year, with further details "published in the Spring".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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