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
4 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
The evidence we have received leaves us in no doubt that labour shortages, caused by...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
While the whole food and farming sector has suffered from labour shortages, the situation for...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
The Government’s temporary short-term visa schemes for poultry workers, pork butchers and HGV drivers were...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report - Labour shortages i…
The evidence we have taken leaves us in no doubt about the seriousness of the...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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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