New immigration rules announced

The UK Government must prove that a new points-based system for skilled immigrants is fit for Scottish purpose, says SNP MP Pete Wishart.

Outlining the new system to MPs, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said UK firms will have to prove they cannot find skilled workers from the European Economic Area before looking elsewhere for immigrants.

Responding to the statement, Mr Wishart said:

“The Home Office must demonstrate that the new points based immigration system is fit for Scottish purpose.

“Scotland’s population and immigration requirements are completely different from the rest of the UK, and this has to be recognised when points are added up.

“Sir Trevor Philips, the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, suggested that Scotland should be favoured in points base, arguing that skilled migrant workers should be awarded extra entry points if they opted to move to Scotland as opposed to England.

“Such a system is already working successfully in Australia, where different State Governments can grant visas to live and work in that state alone. UK Ministers have adopted the Australian system, but without the essential flexibility component that would allow Scotland to tailor its immigration requirements.

“Scotland is in historic population decline and the blip caused by Eastern European workers is already coming to an end with many returning back home. It is now recognised that, by the second part of the century, Scotland’s population will fall below five million. That will certainly have an impact on the economy.

“If the Westminster Government is unable or unwilling to address this, then the Scottish Parliament must be given the powers to take the initiative. Scotland really needs the power to administer its own immigration service and determine a policy that meets our own specific requirements.”