BMPA demands “urgent” meeting with Minister on impending immigration changes
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has once again written to Government regarding the new £38,700 immigration rule, reporting a “sense of desperation” among UK meat companies.
BMPA highlighted that the Government was “ploughing ahead with this seismic policy change without a proper understanding of the damage it will cause”.
A previous letter regarding the immigration rule was sent to Secretary of State James Cleverly, but the BMPA reported that it had not yet had a reply.
Nick Allen, CEO of the BMPA, said: “We’ve written to James Cleverly to explain the issues and his response makes it clear that he simply doesn’t appreciate the scale of the problem.
“So we’re now writing to Minister of State Tom Pursglove to ask for an urgent meeting with our members so they can lay out the damaging consequences of this policy including food inflation, withdrawal of investment, weakened domestic food security and lower economic growth.”
The letter addressed to Minister Pursglove requested a meeting with the chairs and chief executives of major UK companies, as it focused on the potential repercussions of the rule for food inflation, future investment in the UK, food security and animal welfare.
“We would therefore ask you, as a matter of priority, to arrange a meeting between yourself and the chairs and chief executives of the five-six companies with a joint turnover of £8 billion,” said the letter. “These companies make a significant contribution to the UK economy and are essential to the mainstream food supply chain. We want to give you the opportunity to hear first-hand their concerns about the ramifications.”
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