HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1192-3W
Ian Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) to what extent legislation applies to undocumented gangmaster-provided labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries; [140246]

(2) what (a) monitoring and (b) enforcement provisions are used to ensure that gangmasters in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries comply with United Kingdom legislation; [140247]

(3) how many gangmasters providing labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries have been found to be in breach of United Kingdom law since 1997; how many of those gangmasters were subsequently prosecuted; and what sanctions and penalties were applied to those gangmasters found guilty following prosecution. [140248]

Mr. Bradshaw

This information will take some time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information in due course.

Ian Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gangmasters operate within the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK; and how many gangworkers are employed within these industries. [140189]

Mr. Bradshaw

Information about the number of gangmasters operating in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK and the number of workers they supply is not collected by Government. In evidence given to the EFRA Select Committee's inquiry into gangmasters it was estimated that the number of gangmasters operating in agriculture and horticulture could be approaching 3,000 of which some 250 are thought to be substantial businesses. Information about the total number of seasonal and casual workers employed in agriculture and horticulture is collected by Defra's annual Census of agriculture and horticulture. In June 2002 (when the Census was taken) some 64,000 seasonal and casual workers were employed. This figure will include both workers supplied by gangmasters to employers in agriculture and horticulture and workers who are employed directly by those employers.