MOVEMENT ON a replacement Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme could be on the cards, as ‘the powers that be’ begin to take on board the challenges facing the soft fruit industry – so says Pete Wishart MP, who has been backing the call for SAWS for some time.

On a recent visit to Peter Marshall Farms in Alyth, Perthshire, Mr Wishart witnessed first-hand the problems labour shortages and the long dry spell have brought to soft fruit farmers.

“Meg Marshall recently invited me to her farm to witness the impact that labour challenges are having on the ground – I was appalled to see perfectly good crop over-ripening in the fields due to the problems she is having with attracting labour,” he stressed. “For some time now, I have been calling on the UK Government to reintroduce the SAWS in order to help with some of the issues that farmers like Ms Marshall are facing.

“I have to say that I have faced point blank refusal from those in power up until now, but over the past few weeks ministers appear to be taking on board these concerns,” he explained. “With so many EU nationals deciding not to come to the UK this year as a result of the uncertainties of Brexit, it is imperative that ministers act as quickly as possible.

"It would not be scaremongering to say that hundreds of thousands of pounds of crop will be destroyed this year alone, which could put some growers out of business,” warned Mr Wishart.

“With Parliament just about to go into recess for the summer, it is time that ministers get out of their offices in Whitehall and into the fields of Perthshire to witness what is happening to businesses up and down the country,” he continued. “I will be writing to Michael Gove to share my findings with him and to renew demands for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme to be re-introduced.”

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick reiterated his call for SAWS to be reinstated: “NFUS has warned UK Government time and again that without a SAWS to put boots on the ground every year, the sector will contract. It is hugely disappointing that these warnings have so far been unheeded, and we are already starting to see crops being lost due to shortages of labour,” he stressed.

“For NFUS, the answer lies in dusting down what was the previous SAWS, which operated independently of the UK’s immigration system up to its abolition in 2013,” he explained. “With a few adjustments, a scheme of this sort would solve the logjam and put an end to uncertainty for Scottish growers and potential seasonal workers. Let’s be clear – this is not an immigration issue, it is a labour shortage issue, and it should be considered completely separately from the ongoing Brexit negotiations,” Mr McCornick insisted.

NFUS are calling on members who are experiencing labour shortages to contact them and their MP, to put more pressure on the UK Government to resolve this issue.