The NPA has received a clear message from the Government that controlling immigration will be a priority issue throughout the Brexit process.
This reassurance comes from UK Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill, in reply to a letter from NPA chairman, Richard Lister, which made the point that any future lack of access to EU labour would undermine the pig sector’s ability to produce food for the nation.
In response, Mr Goodwill (pictured above) has told the NPA that the UK needs a fair and controlled immigration system.
“The British public have sent a clear message that it must be a priority in our negotiations to gain more control of the numbers of people who come here from Europe, and we will implement a system for the whole of the UK that delivers this,” he said.
“The precise way in which we do this, however, is yet to be determined.”
The Minister also stressed the Government’s desire to get the best deal for the UK, “not least for our world-leading food and farming industry which is a key part of our economic success”.