WESTMINSTER'S proposed post-Brexit immigration framework has failed to take account of the farming and food processing sectors' workforce needs.

The newly released Immigration White Paper includes plans to remove limits on skilled migrants seeking five-year visas to come to the UK, so long as they are coming into jobs that meet a minimum salary requirement of £30,000 – a threshold that excludes many of the 'skilled' roles underpinning Scotland's successful food and drink sector.

This week, farmers and veterinary leaders both called on the government to reconsider that financial definition of skilled labour, or risk a workforce crisis that will cripple domestic food production.

NFU Scotland horticulture chair James Porter said: “Despite the union having fed extensively into the Migration Advisory Committee’s deliberations since summer 2017, it is hugely disappointing that in its recommendations it has not heeded the strong evidence that Scottish agriculture and associated industries, such as food processing and road haulage, require routes to employ non-UK workers in what are deemed less ‘skilled’, but nonetheless very competent, permanent positions.

“Any future immigration system must be based on a realistic expectation of the ability and availability of UK workers to fill the many and varied jobs currently carried out by non-UK migrant workers and it is frustrating that the evidence provided by NFUS and others in the agriculture, food processing and road haulage industries in this regard has not been recognised in MAC’s recommendations to the UK Government," said Mr Porter.

“It is becoming clear to NFU Scotland that there is a misleading and damaging rhetoric coming from UK Government and its advisors on where the gaps in skills and labour are and it is very concerning to us, and other stakeholders in the wider food and drink processing industry, that the strong evidence of our sectors has not been heeded as the UK Government considers a new immigration system for the UK."

The British Veterinary Association warned that the proposed salary thresholds threatened the status of EU vets carrying out critical but comparatively low-paid roles in public health, and could lead to a 'near-total wipeout' of vets in UK slaughterhouses, with serious consequences for UK trade.

Starting salaries for Official Veterinarians monitoring standards, food safety and animal health and welfare in abattoirs are in the mid-£20,000s, noted the BVA, and around 95% of the vets currently doing that work are from overseas, predominantly the EU.

BVA president Simon Doherty said: “Veterinary surgeons in abattoirs are highly skilled and carry out critical roles ensuring food safety, safeguarding animal welfare and enabling the UK’s trade in animal products. But many won’t meet the proposed £30,000 salary threshold.

“When the Home Secretary lifted the cap on non-EU health sector workers in June, BVA called for vets to be included. We reiterate that call today for the immigration cap to be lifted on vets."

Under the UK Government’s plans, immigrants deemed to be ‘low skilled’ workers may be able to apply for short-term visas of up to a year, a concession which might be of some assistance to the horticulture sector, which has a high demand for seasonal workers with fruit and veg picking experience.