A Scots farmer who supplies Tesco and Sainsbury’s is being investigated by immigration officials after migrant workers were housed in squalid conditions, writes Stuart MacDonald.

David Leslie is the subject of a multi-agency inquiry into allegations that he employed illegal immigrants at his Scones of Lethendy berry farm in Perthshire. The labourers, mainly from Bulgaria, live in cramped metal containers with no toilets or running water.

Investigators are said to have uncovered filthy washing facilities, with just eight showers for 251 workers employed by David Leslie Fruits.

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is leading the investigation in co-operation with the UK Border Agency, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, the Health and Safety Executive, Tayside Police and Perth and Kinross Council.

The employees are supplied by a recruitment agency in Bulgaria but many are suspected of entering the UK illegally.

One farm worker approached by The Sunday Times said: “The places we sleep in are very small and because we share with many people we have no privacy.

“We do not have enough money to live anywhere else. I like Scotland and I do not mind the hard work but the conditions we live in are terrible.”

John Park, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said the workers’ living standards were “disgusting” and called on the supermarkets to suspend supplies from Leslie.

He said he planned to write to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whose department is responsible for gangmaster legislation.

“It’s like something out of the 18th century, not 21st-century Scotland,” said Park. “This sort of behaviour should not be endorsed by supermarkets in any way.”

Tesco and Sainsbury’s said they were concerned by the allegations and had launched their own investigations.

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority said: “We are working with a number of enforcement bodies to investigate allegations of mistreatment relating to the working and housing conditions of 251 Bulgarians who had been sent to work at David Leslie’s farm. We are also aware of the agency who supplied these workers. Our inquiries are ongoing and we can not comment further at this time."

When contacted by The Sunday Times, Leslie said he had been advised to make no comment. He has previously said that his operation met “industry standards”.

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