West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has continued her campaign to help local fruit and vegetable growers to use UK or European workers. The MP questioned Immigration Minister Mark Harper about plans to ensure that local farmers are able to recruit seasonal workers to pick fruit and vegetables next year. A national scheme which allows farmers to hire Romanian and Bulgarian workers for short periods comes to an end this year when immigration controls on these countries end. Harriett has been working with the NFU and the Department for Work and Pensions to try and make it easier for farmers to use temporary workers from the UK once the Universal Credit is rolled out. The MP quizzed the Minister yesterday (Monday Tuesday January 7) about plans for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. She told the House of Commons: “As the Minister knows, the finest fruit and vegetables are grown in West Worcestershire. “Can the Minister reassure my farmers that they will be able to face the 2014 growing season and picking season with the confidence that by working together with the Work and Pensions Department and DEFRA, there will be an adequate supply of people to pick the crops.” The Minister confirmed that he expects to receive advice on this from the Migration Advisory Committee in March. Speaking after the debate, Harriett added: “This is an issue which has been raised by local farmers and the NFU. “With large numbers of people unemployed and trying to get off benefits and back into work, it feels wrong that so many seasonal jobs are taken by temporary foreign workers. “Many of these jobs are paid by results so workers can earn double or triple the minimum wage and housing is often provided so workers can take home a significant lump sum. “I look forward to the day when I can go into my British supermarket and buy Worcestershire grown horticultural items and know that those British fruit and vegetables have been picked by British or European workers and that the money they have been paid has stayed within Britain.” FULL TEXT: Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): Whether her Department has taken steps to ensure the continuity of supply of seasonal agricultural workers following the lifting of restrictions on immigration from Bulgaria and Romania. [135578] The Minister for Immigration (Mr Mark Harper): The transitional restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians come to an end at the end of this year. With reference to the agricultural industry, we will look to see whether any further schemes are necessary once the Migration Advisory Committee has reported to us in March this year. Harriett Baldwin: As the Minister knows, the finest fruit and vegetables are grown in West Worcestershire. Can he reassure my farmers that they will be able to face the 2014 growing and picking season with the confidence that, working together with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there will be an adequate supply of people to pick the crops? Mr Harper: I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. In December I met one of the West Midlands Members of the European Parliament, Anthea McIntyre, together with farmers who farm both in Herefordshire and in my constituency in the soft fruit sector. That may be the one respect in which I slightly disagree with my hon. Friend. I have listened to their concerns and will listen to what the Migration Advisory Committee says in its report before we take a decision early this year. | Hansard