| In response to fears that fruit may be left to rot due to the lack of pickers, Mr Swinney has called for an immediate increase in the number of workers allowed into Scotland under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.
One of the main reasons for the concern lies in the scheme now being open only to Bulgarians and Romanians. With Ukrainians having previously worked on Scottish fruit farms no longer eligible, there has been a cut in the number of immigrant workers from 25,000 to 16,000.
“For many years fruit farmers in North Tayside have relied on large numbers of workers from Eastern Europe to harvest their crop,” said Mr Swinney.
“While it has been difficult enough to find workers willing to take short-term seasonal employment in previous years, the recent decrease in eligible numbers under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme spells potential disaster to many of our local farmers.
“The berry industry in Angus and East Perthshire is a vitally important part of the local economy, and we must ensure all measures are taken to prevent our farming communities losing out.
“Seasonal workers have played a substantial role in developing the sector, and are important for the local and national economy. Scotland has long had a close, relationship with Eastern Europe with many people crossing the border in both directions seeking work.
“It is important our industries are given the conditions to allow them to flourish and any reduction in our seasonal workforce could well be disastrous for the soft fruit industry.
“I will put pressure on the UK Government, along with NFU Scotland, to provide a change in the programme to allow an additional 5000 migrant workers to come to Scotland from Eastern Europe.”
Mr Swinney’s SNP colleague, Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, shares his concerns and has been monitoring the issue closely in Westminster. His constituency includes East Perthshire, famous as the home of Scotland’s soft fruit sector.
Mr Wishart said, “The possibility of a lack of seasonal workers is one which strikes at the heart of a very important industry in my constituency. I have been monitoring the issue closely and have brought pressure to bear on the UK Government previously.
“I will be raising the matter this week with DEFRA once more to ensure the interests of my constituents, particularly in the soft fruit farming strongholds of East Perthshire, are not ignored. The UK Government cannot continue to discard Scottish interests and I will be pressing them hard on this matter.” |
