Seasonal worker plan is a boost
For many farmers, 2018 has played out like the“10 plagues”from the Book of Exodus.
First up, we had one of the longest and coldest winters on record, followed by a sustained dry spell, added to the mix was seasonal labour shortages and this was all bookended by August’s biblical rains.
The unpredictability of Scotland’s climate is nothing new, but this year it’s been more changeable than ever.
Ultimately, bad weather means more money spent on feedstock which eats into farmers’bottom lines.
Whilst politicians can’t be blamed for the weather, although some will try, we can help mitigate labour shortages.
Lost amongst last week’s front pages was an important announcement on immigration policy that will positively affect farmers across the region.
Tales of fruit rotting in fields for want of people to pick them has concerned politicians of all stripes.
Therefore, the UK Government has announced the arrival of a new pilot scheme to grant 2500 seasonal workers, who live out with the EU, a temporary visa.
This is a hugely positive step and shows that the UK Government is listening and reacting to the concerns of Perthshire fruit farmers.
However, it’s not just farmers who have been calling for this scheme.
My Westminster colleague and Angus MP, Kirstene Hair, has been lobbying the Home Office for some time on this issue and I am pleased to see her hard work pay off.
Another announcement that was probably missed in the wake of other news, was positive soundings from the UK Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah, on the possibility of creating a post-study work visa for international students.
Similar schemes exist in the USA, Australia and New Zealand and they have been identified as a key determinant for international students picking where to study. The visa is very simple. After graduating, an international student would typically find it difficult to obtain the correct permissions to stay and work, but the post-study work visa offers a timelimited legal guarantee for them to do so.
A similar policy was in operation before 2012 and I have long believed it’s right to bring it back.
The public would appear to share these feelings, as a recent poll found a significant 72 per cent of respondents were in favour of the scheme.
International students are hugely important to the financial health of universities but they also help support a diverse student body which improves learning for everyone.
In Scotland, the situation is more critical.
We need to retain highly skilled international graduates to support our economy and this type of visa is the best way to do so.
As we exit the European Union it is also important to showcase the UK as a friendly and welcoming place for international students and there is no better way of doing so than the post-study work visa.
* As ever, Liz welcomes the feedback of constituents and can be contacted at the Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL or via email at Elizabeth.Smith.msp@ parliament.scot or via telephone at 01738 553990.