Seasonal Fruit Pickers (Hansard, 10 June 2004)

§ Colin Burgon
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average age is of seasonal fruit pickers who came to work to the UK in the last three years. [175439]

§ Mr. Browne
[holding answer 24 May 2004]: Non-EU nationals working as seasonal fruit pickers in the UK come under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). Data about the average age of SAWS participants prior to 2004 is not available.
The average age of SAWS participants who have been issued work cards to work on the scheme in 2004 is 22.

§ Colin Burgon
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time a contracted seasonal fruit picker spent working in the UK in the last three years. [175445]

§ Mr. Browne
[holding answer 24 May 2004]: Non-EU nationals working as seasonal fruit pickers in the UK come under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). Data about the average length of contract for SAWS participants prior to 2004 is not available.
We anticipate that SAWS participants who have been issued work cards for 2004 will work on the scheme for an average of 4.7 months. Participants may only work for a maximum of six months on SAWS.