Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to announce a new seasonal workers scheme for 2022; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including the ornamental horticulture production industry in that scheme.

Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the food and farming workforce beyond 2021. The Government has announced that the seasonal worker visa route will be extended to 2024 to allow overseas workers to come to the UK for up to six months to harvest both edible and ornamental crops. 30,000 visas will be available. This will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 visas if necessary.