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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to restore the Agricultural Workers’ Board.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to restore the Agricultural Workers’ Board.
We currently have no plans to restore the Agricultural Wages Board.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board on agricultural workers' wages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board on agricultural workers' wages.
The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales ended in 2013. The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wages rates for all eligible workers, including those in agriculture, are set by the Government, based on the advice of an independent advisory group, the Low Pay Commission.
On 1 April 2023, the Government increased the National Living Wage for workers aged 23 years and over by 9.7% to £10.42. The National Minimum Wage was also increased to £10.42 for workers aged 23 and over, with lower rates for younger workers.
A large portion of the agricultural workforce is seasonal. When the continuation of the Seasonal Worker visa route was announced on 24 December 2021, Defra and the Home Office were clear this would require those using the route to pay a minimum salary to discourage poor working conditions. Seasonal agricultural workers are among the most vulnerable workers in the UK and improving pay and conditions for these workers, along with increasing efforts to protect workers and prevent them from being exploited, are laudable goals.
From 12 April 2023 seasonal workers on the visa route must be paid a minimum rate of £10.42 (equivalent to the national living wage) for each hour worked. There is also a requirement to provide a minimum of 32 hours of work every week. The usual rules prohibiting zero hours contracts, alongside the operators of the Seasonal Worker visa route ensuring workers are supported in the event work is not available, continue to apply.
Recruitment and retention of agricultural workers, of which wages are one element, were considered in the independent review of labour shortages in the food supply chain which the Government commissioned in 2022. The review focused on farming, processing, and food and drink manufacturing as sectors that are critical for food production and food security. The final report was published on 30 June 2023: Independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and the Government response will follow in autumn 2023.
Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported.
Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported.
New clause 16 (Environmental targets and objectives), discussed with new clause 17 (Primacy of public purposes), new clause 19 (Financial assistance: duty to provide advice), and new clause 27 (Smallholdings estates: land management), debated and negatived on division (7 votes to 9). New clause 18 (Consultation on administration) debated and withdrawn. New clause 21 (Agricultural co-operatives) debated and withdrawn. New clause 22 (Import of foie gras) debated and negatived on division (8 votes to 9). New clause 25 (Report on impact of Act upon agricultural workers) debated and negatived on division (7 votes to 9). New clause 26 (Prohibition of live export of livestock) debated and withdrawn. New clause 28 (Monitoring pesticide use and alternatives) debated and negatived on division (7 votes to 9). New clause 29 (Report on agricultural payments to the Scottish Ministers) debated and negatived on division (8 votes to 9). New clause 31 (Financial assistance: agricultural tenancies) debated and withdrawn. Government amendment made to the long title of the Bill to cover the content of Government new clause 4. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (Bill 292).
New clause 16 (Environmental targets and objectives), discussed with new clause 17 (Primacy of public purposes), new clause 19 (Financial assistance: duty to provide advice), and new clause 27 (Smallholdings estates: land management), debated and negatived on division (7 votes to 9). New clause 18 (Consultation on administration) debated and...
Amendment to clause 11 negatived on division. Government amendment made to clause 11. Clause 11 agreed to as amended. Clauses 12 to 16 agreed to. Clause 17 under consideration when Committee adjourned.
Amendment to clause 11 negatived on division. Government amendment made to clause 11. Clause 11 agreed to as amended. Clauses 12 to 16 agreed to. Clause 17 under consideration when Committee adjourned.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in 2013 on the proportion of migrants working in the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in 2013 on the proportion of migrants working in the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement.
The Migration Advisory Committee’s report of May 2013 on the impact on the horticultural sector of ending the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme made a full assessment of the factors, including earnings, driving the supply of, and demand for, migrant labour in the industry
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what statistics are made publicly available on agricultural wages since the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what statistics are made publicly available on agricultural wages since the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.
The Office for National Statistics publishes various agricultural wage statistics as part of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
The latest statistical release containing agricultural wage rates is entitled “Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2014 Provisional Results.”
The hon. Gentleman knows full well that that the devolution settlement is a complicated one, and that it was entirely right for the UK Government to seek clarity from the Supreme Court on this issue. We welcome the fact that the Supreme Court has given its ruling and provided the clarification we needed.
The hon. Gentleman knows full well that that the devolution settlement is a complicated one, and that it was entirely right for the UK Government to seek clarity from the Supreme Court on this issue. We welcome the fact that the Supreme Court has given its ruling and provided the clarification we needed.
Agriculture is a significant employment sector in Wales, and many people, including the Farmers Union of Wales, wanted the Agricultural Wages Board to be protected. Will the Minister say why he has twice challenged it in the High Court and in the Supreme Court, and how much that has cost the public and the taxpayer?
Agriculture is a significant employment sector in Wales, and many people, including the Farmers Union of Wales, wanted the Agricultural Wages Board to be protected. Will the Minister say why he has twice challenged it in the High Court and in the Supreme Court, and how much that has cost the public and the taxpayer?
Agriculture is a significant employment sector in Wales, and many people, including the Farmers Union of Wales, wanted the Agricultural Wages Board to be protected. Will the Minister say why he has twice challenged it in the High Court and in the Supreme Court, and how much that has cost the public and the taxpayer?
The hon. Gentleman knows full well that that the devolution settlement is a complicated one, and that it was entirely right for the UK Government to seek clarity from the Supreme Court on this issue. We welcome the fact that the Supreme Court has given its ruling and provided the clarification we needed.
I always worry about iconoclasm. There have been certain ages in our history when it has played an interesting role. Perhaps Members should embark on a tour immediately to explain to people out there how important these concepts are to the health of our democracy. I think we all agree...
I always worry about iconoclasm. There have been certain ages in our history when it has played an interesting role. Perhaps Members should embark on a tour immediately to explain to people out there how important these concepts are to the health of our democracy. I think we all agree...
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
My Lords, the Government are committed to providing an environment for all sectors of the economy in which private enterprise and businesses can flourish. A key objective is to simplify employment legislation and remove unnecessary burdens from businesses. As part of this, the Government have taken forward legislation through the...
My Lords, the Government are committed to providing an environment for all sectors of the economy in which private enterprise and businesses can flourish. A key objective is to simplify employment legislation and remove unnecessary burdens from businesses. As part of this, the Government have taken forward legislation through the...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, might be pleased to hear that I will not remove my jacket.
I have vehemently opposed the whole principle of the agricultural wages board. I am not in essence opposing the provision today because, as the noble Lord said, it is a logical...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, might be pleased to hear that I will not remove my jacket.
I have vehemently opposed the whole principle of the agricultural wages board. I am not in essence opposing the provision today because, as the noble Lord said, it is a logical...
My Lords, as we have heard from my noble friend, we are returning to what is, for us on this side of the Committee, the vexed question of the abolition of the agricultural wages board, which we have consistently opposed. In opening, the Minister implied that the agricultural wages board...
My Lords, as we have heard from my noble friend, we are returning to what is, for us on this side of the Committee, the vexed question of the abolition of the agricultural wages board, which we have consistently opposed. In opening, the Minister implied that the agricultural wages board...
I thank the noble Lords, Lord Whitty and Lord Knight, for their contributions. As I said earlier, the amendments we are proposing to the Working Time Regulations are necessary technical amendments to the legislation as a result of the end of the agricultural minimum wage regulatory regime on 1 October,...
I thank the noble Lords, Lord Whitty and Lord Knight, for their contributions. As I said earlier, the amendments we are proposing to the Working Time Regulations are necessary technical amendments to the legislation as a result of the end of the agricultural minimum wage regulatory regime on 1 October,...
My Lords—
My Lords—
I am now coming on to some of the other points. Perhaps I may proceed, and if I do not cover them the noble Lord can intervene then. Would he like me to try?
I am now coming on to some of the other points. Perhaps I may proceed, and if I do not cover them the noble Lord can intervene then. Would he like me to try?
Yes.
4 pm
Yes.
4 pm
The noble Lord effectively asked why we do not wait to press ahead until all this has been resolved. We will not know the outcome of the Welsh position for some time, but we need certainty for people in employment in farming in the mean time. If we did not...
The noble Lord effectively asked why we do not wait to press ahead until all this has been resolved. We will not know the outcome of the Welsh position for some time, but we need certainty for people in employment in farming in the mean time. If we did not...
Before the Minister moves off Wales completely, I would be grateful to know whether he considered the order applying just to England, so that we would not have this issue. Given that detailed conversations were going on with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government, was that an option?
Before the Minister moves off Wales completely, I would be grateful to know whether he considered the order applying just to England, so that we would not have this issue. Given that detailed conversations were going on with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government, was that an option?