MPs want gangmaster Minister
A committee of MPs wants a Minister responsible for gangmasters amid continued concern about the sector.
A follow-up report by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee says very little has changed since its first report on gangmasters in September 2003.
Michael Jack, Conservative MP and chairman of the committee said a Minister of ‘sufficient seniority’ should be responsible for the industry.
In a highly critical report the committee said that the Government had failed to respond with sufficient urgency to the problems of illegal labour activity, despite being notified by the committee previously.
The committee has been investigating the problem since 2003, but it was the tragic deaths of 20 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe that brought the issue into the public and political consciousness.
Following the deaths the Government decided to support Jim Sheridan’s bill to license gangmasters. Michael Jack this appeared to have been “driven by events” rather than any plan.
Andrew George, Liberal Democrat rural spokesman, urged the Government to act on the report. He said: “With five government departments and many more government agencies, working parties and committees responsible for this area of law, the possibility of serious lethargy and fatal confusion is ever present.
“Sadly, it took the tragedy of Morecambe Bay to highlight the lack of leadership and joined-up government.
“The Government must keep its word and act upon the recommendations of this report and support the early introduction of the Gangmasters Bill.”
