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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to tackle the illegal exploitation of migrant workers in the cockle industry, with particular reference to improving co-ordination with the Home Office. [154634] Alun Michael: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is one of the departments which participates in Operation Gang master. This multi agency initiative which also includes the Home Office Immigration Service, is designed to collate intelligence and to sponsor joint operations against those gang masters who break the law while operating in the informal economy. This includes the provision of labour to the cockle industry. Government Departments also undertake individual compliance activity against illegal working. In this context the Immigration Service has conducted three operations with other agencies since June 2003 targeted at illegal working in the cockle industry in the Morecambe Bay area. The Government are currently considering the details of the Gang master (Licensing) Bill presented by the hon. Member for West Renfrewshire (Jim Sheridan) as a private members bill. This provides for a licensing scheme which would, if introduced, regulate the activities of gang labour providers in the agriculture and related sectors.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

154634; 418 c423-4W;418 c443-4W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Conditions of employment Employment Fisheries Undocumented migrants Gangmasters Migrant workers Cockles

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk