Seasonal farm workers scheme ‘unambitious’

Under Secretary Clark says planned wage expectation is too high

The seasonal agricultural workers programme was unambitious and the proposed wage expectation for migrants working in Scotland is too high, the Under Secretary for Scotland has said.

Colin Clark yesterday visited a number of agricultural and technology centres in Courier Country – including the James Hutton Institute, Agrico UK and Angus Soft Fruits – who took part in the worker scheme.

Mr Clark said the government was trying to entice workers from outside the EU to be employed in the country’s agricultural and care industries once the UK leaves the EU on October 31.

The Gordon MP, who ousted Alex Salmond at the 2017 election, told The Courier he supported a no-deal Brexit “by default”, arguing the only way the country could get a deal with the EU come October 31 was to be clear we were leaving without a deal.

He said: “The seasonal agricultural workers scheme of 2,500 workers was a model to demonstrate how we can employ people from outside the EU.

“We had systems and frameworks in place which allowed them to come into this country and we were comfortable they were returning to their own countries.

“Companies like Angus Soft Fruits (tested) the system. We have had seasonal workers schemes before, and I have said on the record 2,500 was really unambitious. I would have preferred a sample of around 10,000.

“What we want to see and what we are trying to make sure is that we have access to migrant labour from other countries.

“There are very few Poles working in these industries. The labour came predominantly from countries like Bulgaria and Romania. We were always going to be looking outside the EU for migrant labour going forward.

“There is a white paper consultation out at the moment asking industry and business stakeholders to contribute. I am on record saying the £30,000 limit which was spoken about would be too high for Scotland.”

Asked if he supported leaving the EU without a deal, Mr Clark said: “I support no-deal by default. I supported there being a deal and I support the prime minister going to get a deal, but if we are not clear that we can leave on October 31 without a deal, we won’t ever get a deal.”

Freedom of movement for EU workers would end if the UK leaves without a deal, Downing Street has said.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Under Secretary Colin Clark, left, with Professor Colin Campbell, CEO of the James Hutton Institute.