Relief as sheep shear visa scheme is extended
Shadow farming minister Robbie Moore has heralded a Government decision to allow a concessionary visa scheme for sheep shearers to continue for a year, to avert an animal welfare crisis.
Thanking constituents and others who had highlighted the issue of an impending shortfall of trained sheep shearers, the Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said Labour had done another u-turn.
He said: “The much-needed sheep shear visas will be extended. It has taken 26 days for the government to make an urgent decision.”
Able to shear hundred of sheep a day, the elite overseas workers, who are mainly from Australia and New Zealand, have been responsible for shearing up to two million sheep in the UK every year.
On a national level, while Bradford-based British Wool has been training more than 800 shearers a year, most of the training courses are at a basic level and most people taking part are sheep farmers so do not have time to shear elsewhere.
Following the Home Office decision to end the concession, the chair of the UK's agriculture committee, Alistair Carmichael highlighted a consensus in the sheep industry that there is “a looming animal welfare crisis” waiting to happen.
The National Sheep Association warned the decision would probably cause shearing to be delayed for many farmers, increasing the risk of heat stress, flystrike, and maggots.
The Home Office had earlier this year decided a visa concession for overseas shearers that has operated since 2011 would not be available, but lobbying by the UK wool and shearing industry and MPs has temporarily reversed the decision.
Confirming the U-turn on Tuesday, a government spokesman said: “A final extension has been provided to the sector.
“We now expect the sector to complete its transition to using domestic labour.”
It is understood this concession, which extends to 30 June 2026 but will not be renewed for 2027, was made after considering evidence submitted “at a late stage” by Defra.
In a letter to the Shadow Defra Secretary, Victoria Atkins, Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said the Home Office had operated the sheep shearing Immigration Rules concession for 14 years, and over this time the sheep farming sector has relied on it for skilled shearers from overseas during the UK’s shearig season.
Mr Tapp described the concessionaary arrangement as “generous” to allow more shearers to be trained and emphasised it was “exceptional, temporary and subject to regular ministerial review”.
He also underlined how the concession had been approved last year on condition it would close after the shearing season and the Home Office had been advised the industry would work with Defra to find a long-term sustainable solution last year.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association said his body would work with Defra and other industry organisations to identify ways forward.