Labour shortages in the food and farming sector

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 15 Sep 2021 Closed: 20 Jul 2022 Parliament page
There have been reports of labour shortages affecting some businesses throughout the food and farming sector, for example: farms have been unable to hire all the seasonal workers they need to harvest food (and pick other crops such as flowers); businesses in the food and drink processing sector – the … Read more
10 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
23 Jun
2022
Report published
23 Jun
2022
Correspondence
6 Apr
2022
Report published
23 Feb
2022
Correspondence
14 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
14 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
16 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
16 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
9 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
9 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
26 Oct
2021
Oral evidence
26 Oct
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
14 Dec 2021
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Kevin Foster MP · Home Office Philippa Rouse · SRO Future Border & Immigration System Programme, Migration & Borders Group
16 Nov 2021
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
David Kennedy · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
9 Nov 2021
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC) Dr Ben Broadbent · Bank of England Kate Nicholls · UKHospitality Madeleine Sumption · Migration Observatory Mr Tom Southall · Cold Chain Federation Professor Jo Swaffield · University of York
26 Oct 2021
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Charlie Dewhirst · National Pig Association Derek Jarman · British Protected Ornamentals Association Graeme Dear · British Poultry Council Ian Wright · Food and Drink Federation Mr James Russell · British Veterinary Association Mr Nick Allen · British Meat Processors Association Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth report - Labour shortages in the food and farming sector HC 713 6 Apr 2022 15 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
We note the apparent lack of fairness in many contractual arrangements as highlighted by the...
We note the apparent lack of fairness in many contractual arrangements as highlighted by the Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food. We therefore welcome the Government’s decision to review fairness within the pig supply chain. However, pig farmers continue to … Read more
Government Response
The government stated they introduced temporary visa schemes for poultry workers, food-sector HGV drivers, and pork butchers in recognition of the unique circumstances, and do not plan to re-introduce similar temporary visa schemes in the future.
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4 Conclusion Accepted
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
The food and drink sector has responded to the current labour shortage by increasing wages...
The food and drink sector has responded to the current labour shortage by increasing wages and introducing various incentives. However, this has not always been successful and, where it has worked, it has often resulted in labour movement and churn … Read more
Government Response
The government describes actions already taken, including engaging with employers and stakeholders about the EU Settlement Scheme and new immigration system and does not intend to stand up the Food Resilience Industry Forum regularly in response to labour shortages.
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
In the longer term, we agree with the Government that the sector needs to shift...
In the longer term, we agree with the Government that the sector needs to shift its focus away from immigration and toward domestic workers and technological innovation and development. While not able to deliver results overnight, a greater focus on … Read more
Government Response
Defra will commission an independent review to tackle labour shortages in the food supply chain, considering automation, domestic labour, and migration. Defra will also publish the Review of Automation and a Government response in summer 2022.
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Government Response AI assessment · 15 of 10 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 4
Total 10 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
23 Jun 2022 Correspondence from the Chair to Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, dated 14 June
Parliament page
23 Feb 2022 Correspondence from Minister Prentis re: Labour shortages in the food and farming sector inquiry, Pig sector, dated 17 February
Parliament page
16 Sep 2021 Correspondence to the Home Secretary relating to the inquiry into Labour shortages in the food and farming sector, 14 September 2021
Parliament page