To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the success of her Department's policies to address the needs of ethnic minority groups in rural areas.

Whilst ethnic minority groups are employed across the whole economy of the north of Ireland, large numbers have secured gainful employment in the agri-food sector and continue to make a positive contribution both in economic and social terms to the fabric of our society. My Department supports these groups through sponsorship of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) and funding of Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) enforcement activity. The AWB sets the rate of pay and some other conditions of employment for all agricultural workers, including ethnic minorities, which are published in Polish, Portuguese and Russian. In addition, the GLA operates a Britain and north of Ireland-wide licensing scheme for gangmasters (labour providers) with the primary objective of curbing the activities of those gangmasters who exploit their workers and/or act illegally, including ethnic minority workers.

As well as this specific support for workers an overarching budget of up to £623 million has been agreed with the Executive for the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. Up to £80m of this has been allocated to support a range of schemes that will help to develop the economic development of our rural areas. Support will be provided to improve or maintain the living conditions and welfare of those living in rural areas. An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out on the Programme to ensure that it is as inclusive as possible to all rural dwellers including those from ethnic minority groups.

In addition, under my department’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Inclusion Framework, a budget of around £20m from 2011-2016 is in place to support a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of all vulnerable rural dwellers, including those from ethnic minorities.