SECTOR CHIEFS HAVE THEIR SAY

FARMING

The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) says it will back calls for Holyrood to be given control over immigration if the system is introduced. It believes the proposals will make it difficult for businesses in Scotland’s farming and food sectors to recruit the seasonal and temporary staff they require. NFUS says the industry requires around 70,000 seasonal workers across the UK. President Andrew McCornick said: “It is becoming increasingly clear the UK Government has disregarded the strong and consistent evidence of NFU Scotland and others in the UK food and drink supply chain about the type of immigration system we need to ensure productivity and output.”

FOOD AND DRINK

James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said: “An ongoing, open immigration policy is essential for Scotland’s food and drink industry to be successful. “We have 40,000 jobs needing filled in the coming years and today’s announcement has made that a much more difficult prospect. “Much of our farming, food and drink sector is based in rural and island areas. In many of those places, there simply isn’t the available workforce. “This is not about protecting access to cheap labour, it’s about access to talented, hard-working people whom we need to attract to Scotland.”

SEAFOOD

Seafood bodies highlighted the dependence of the processing sector on overseas labour and pledged to take the issue to the UK Government. Scottish Seafood Association chief executive Jimmy Buchan said: “These immigration plans have the potential to severely restrict the economic boost that will flow from the UK’s exit from the Common Fisheries Policy. “We need ministers to allow scope for recruitment of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour as they are all vital to the viability of the sector.” Julie Hesketh-Laird, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, added: “We are concerned that these proposals, as drafted, could hinder the production and processing of Scottish salmon.”

HEALTH

Jamie Weir, of the NHS Grampian patient group Pact and a retired NHS Grampian board member, said: “It is vital that whatever system is proposed for immigration, the impact on the NHS workforce must be considered carefully and be beneficial, particularly as there are widespread crucial shortages throughout our care system at the present time.”

HOSPITALITY

Frank Whitaker, vice chair of the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association, said: “It is worth noting the hospitality sector in the north-east employs a diverse range of great people who make valuable contributions to the economy. “The view that hospitality should ‘move away’ from relying on ‘cheap labour’ from Europe patronises the north-east’s hospitality professionals, the good work that every one does every day and the important contribution everyone in this industry sector makes to the economy.”