Horticulture

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:57 pm on 14 October 2020.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 1:57, 14 October 2020

Diolch, Llywydd. I've got Janet Finch-Saunders behind me, so that's all the self-promotion I need for this question. [Laughter.]

Minister, we talk a lot about building back better and building back greener in this Chamber. It strikes me that expanding horticulture is one way that we can do this. Of course, Welsh horticulture is massively supported by seasonal agricultural workers coming to the UK to pick fruit and vegetables on farms, and this has continued through the pandemic, as I believe that they've been allowed to self-isolate for 14 days on the farm where they work and live. Can you look at ways that these exemptions can be extended, or will you have discussions with the UK Government if it comes under their remit? This won't just be of benefit to horticulture; I understand that, in the run up to Christmas, there's a shortage of trained poultry processors as well, which could be plugged with an eight-week extension to the exemption for seasonal migrant workers.