Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will meet with the National Farmers Union Scotland to discuss a specific Agricultural Labour Scheme to meet labour shortages in the agricultural sector in Scotland.

I have regular discussions with the National Farmers Union Scotland on a range of matters of importance to the agriculture sector in Scotland.

The precise nature of the UK’s seasonal labour needs, and how they might best be met post-EU exit, have yet to be determined. The Home Secretary has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake a detailed assessment of the impact of EU migration across all parts of the UK’s economy and society, and to gather evidence on patterns of EU migration ahead of our exit from the European Union.

I do, of course, recognise that it is crucial that we secure a strong agricultural workforce as we develop a new approach to farming outside the EU, and I will continue to work closely with our food and farming industry in Scotland to consider their specific needs.