Harriett Baldwin MP questioned the Government over the role of migrant workers in local county farms. The West Worcestershire MP asked Agriculture Minister Jim Paice for guidance for farmers who depend on a foreign workforce to harvest their crops. The question comes after police raided a county farm and discovered under-age children working on a Worcestershire farm. The Minister described the incident as ‘shocking’ but said that the vast majority of farmers behaved responsibly. He said: “Children below the ages of 13 are not permitted to work anywhere and restrictions apply to the number of hours that 13 to 16 year olds can work. “Let’s be under no doubt that if children are being employed in agriculture they are being employed illegally. “I don’t think we should allow this incident to make us think that this is rife across the country. The vast majority of farmers and fruit and vegetable growers behave properly towards their workforce and ensure that their staff are complying with legislation.” He added: “The most important thing anyone for who wants to employ substantial numbers of migrant labour or any other non-local labour is to ensure they are dealing with a licensed gangmaster.” Harriett commented: “I was deeply concerned at the news that illegal workers are being bussed in from outside the area and even more concerned that young people are being used in this way. “The Minister has agreed with me that the situation uncovered locally was appalling but that we hope this is an isolated incident. “I would re-iterate my comments that I think that all farmers have a legal and moral responsibility for the people working on their farms. “Most of all it is important that every farmer ensures that if they are using migrant workers they check to see that their gangmaster is properly licensed and the working conditions are fair and legal. “I continue to raise this matter the with local police and in the House of Commons and I will be watching to see if we can take any further steps to prevent a repeat of this incident.” FULL TEXT Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): The Romanian children were found working in my constituency. Many of the local farmers use migrant labourers. Has the Minister any general advice for those farmers on the employment of migrant labour? Mr Paice: I can say to my hon. Friend quite clearly that the most important thing that anybody who wants to employ migrant labour-or, indeed, any non-local labour-should do is ensure that they are dealing with a licensed gangmaster. They should ask to see the certificate or licence of the gangmaster proposing to bring the labour on to the farm. That way they can all be reassured they are doing the right thing. | Hansard