THE continuing issue of finding enough workers for the British agricultural and horticultural industries was a topic of major concern at the NFU Annual Conference.

Anthea McIntyre MEP for Shropshire, speaking in the horticultural session, said: “Despite considerable ef forts on countless occasions, producers and packers simply cannot find enough British workers prepared to work in the fields or pack-houses.

“The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) is a high quality, well managed scheme.

"Workers are well looked after and pay at least meets the National Minimum Wage. With six month’s work, there is a re gular turnover and an impeccable record of people returning to their home country at the end of their contract.

“Without a reliable and willing local workforce, it is no wonder that SAWS is of such importance to our industries."

She said the current scheme is due to end shortly and a replacement one is essential if British producers are to be able to meet their contracts to supply supermarkets and others going forward.

"Without reliable supply the buyers will look elsewhere to meet the needs of their customers – and that inevitably means more imports," said the Ross-on-Wye based A n t h e a McIntyre.

“I am therefore calling on the immigration minister, M a r k Harper MP, for a follow-on SAWS scheme so that growers and packers can top up their European workforce during the peaks of the season for the particular crops being grown and the growing method being used.

“Experience with SAWS has shown that the UK Border Agency administers the scheme effectively and efficiently and will, I am sure, be well able to deal with a follow on scheme.”