Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration entitled An inspection of the immigration system as it relates to the agricultural sector, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor worker's conditions and (b) ensure that workers can seek redress for complaints on the seasonal workers scheme.

Seasonal worker providers must hold a licence issued by the Home Office and comply with the published duties pertinent to that licence.

A key objective of the seasonal worker scheme is to ensure migrant workers are protected against modern slavery and other labour abuses. The Home Office and Defra monitor the scheme closely to ensure operators adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers, including routinely visiting farms to see conditions first hand.  The scheme places numerous requirements on the operators to monitor and ensure welfare, such as facilitating moves to different participating growers should a worker wish to change employer.

If anyone has reason to believe that abusive practices may be taking place, they should report this through our formal channels so that the information is placed in the hands of the relevant authorities for assessment and potential investigation.

• Full details of how to report information to the Home Office are available on our website at: www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime
• Allegations of abuse should also be reported to the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority. Details of how to do this are available on the GLAA website, at: www.gla.gov.uk/report-issues/english-report-form/