Scottish minister complains of labour shortages

SCOTLAND’S rural affairs secretary has accused her UK counterpart of an “apparent lack of interest” in the food and drink sector’s labour shortages.

Mairi Gougeon has urged UK Government ministers to work collaboratively to solve the issue facing the sector, citing migration policy as a hindrance.

In a letter to Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Steve Barclay, the Scottish minister states she is “confounded” by the lack of “substantive” responses to previous letters to UK ministers.

She wrote: “The only conclusion that I can draw reasonably from this is an apparent lack of interest on the part of the UK Government about this very significant issue and which is of great importance to the sector.”

Ms Gougeon said the loss of EU nationals with Brexit has led to “significant and immediate gaps in labour”.

She also criticised the UK Government’s proposals to extend the “not for EU” labelling requirements on meat and dairy products.

“These seem arbitrary and are likely to have a disproportionate impact on industry,” she said.

“This is also at a time when further red tape, from import controls, are pending with checks ramping up in April and beyond and consumers are already bearing the burden of added food costs.

“All of this points to UK policies that continue to be made without due consideration of economic impacts on, or meaningful consultation with the industries most affected by it.”

She added: “Rather than my having to resort yet again to another letter about all of these issues, it would be best for us to meet to discuss how we can work together effectively to try to make some headway to support the sector.”

She urged Mr Barclay to “reverse the trend” of poor UK Government representation.

The UK Government has been asked for comment.