Don't let this chance go by

The national media lumped the news in with the controversial Sangatte refugee camp deal, so you would be forgiven for not having spotted it. However, I'd been tipped off earlier in the year about a Home Office consultation paper on what they call "working holiday-makers", so the item caught my eye.

From The Times, Saturday 26 May: "Tens of thousands of foreign workers will be allowed into Britain under proposals to be announced by ministers next week. The Home Office is expected to publish a consultation paper designed to double the number of short-term, legal economic migrants from 60,000 a year. Two existing schemes offering ‘working holidays' to young people from the Commonwealth and providing seasonal labour for farmers would be expanded."

OK, they might be talking about extra help on the land as the principal goal, but it would also mean an influx of bright young people keen to enjoy the British social scene. Given a choice between early-morning milking duties 10 miles from the nearest town and nights spent in restaurants, pubs and clubs (albeit on the wrong side of the bar), which would you take? The hospitality industry could really make hay (pun intended) from this relaxation of the immigration rules.

Not only would 60,000 more people be allowed into the country, but the time they could stay would also be lengthened. What is more, the Home Office proposals seek to attract more workers from other Commonwealth and EU countries.

For once, proposed legislation would bring a tangible benefit to our sector. We are very used to lobbying to prevent damaging legislation being passed, but on this occasion we need to give the Home Office our support.

I heard about the consultation paper back in January, but when I spoke to a contact at the Home Office, they were very twitchy and did not want to talk about draft proposals. Government officials have been working on this for many months, so it must already have the amber, if not the green, light.

In this case, we could sit back and hope the proposals sail through without us having to do anything. However, I would urge our trade bodies to get behind these proposals, maybe even joining forces with the National Farmers' Union and construction lobbyists (the building trade is the other sector set to benefit).

We have been talking about the labour and skills shortage for several years. Here is a real opportunity to do something about it. We mustn't let the opportunity slip through our fingers.

Stephen Evans is chief executive of Food That Delights; chairman of First! Venues; a member of the Restaurant Association national committee and chairman of its education and training subcommittee