Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Immigration Policies: Scotland

Monday 22 May 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patricia Gibson expressed concern that UK immigration policies are contributing to labour shortages in Scotland.
  • The UK Government responded that a single national immigration service is preferred, and domestic workforce solutions should be prioritised.
  • Tom Hunt questioned the social and cultural impacts of high levels of legal migration on public services and community cohesion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Immigration Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government have raised concerns about labour shortages multiple times, securing debates on the issue. They proposed a rural immigration pilot as a solution.

Question

I am concerned that my Department's immigration policies are exacerbating labour shortages in Scotland despite repeated warnings from the Scottish Government and debates I have secured on this matter. Why will you not engage with them on their proposed rural immigration pilot, given they lack powers in this area?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

We believe strongly that the UK is better served by a single national immigration service. There is no material difference in unemployment or economic inactivity rates in Scotland compared to the rest of the United Kingdom, and domestic workforce solutions should be prioritised over immigration.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for engagement on a specific rural immigration pilot proposed by the Scottish Government. The answer did not address why this proposal was not being engaged with.

How: Reiterating Uk-Wide Policy, Rejecting Need For Local Solutions

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Immigration Employment Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government proposed a rural immigration pilot to address labour shortages, a proposal welcomed by one of the Home Secretary's predecessors. Labour shortages are posing significant challenges for Scotland.

Question

My SNP colleagues have repeatedly raised the issue of labour shortages. Despite this and my securing a debate on it, why will the UK Government not engage with the Scottish Government on their rural immigration pilot?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

We believe strongly that the UK is better served by a single national immigration service. The first port of call should be the domestic workforce, and my right hon. Friend the Work and Pensions Secretary has brought forward measures to help more people into the workforce.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for engagement on a specific rural immigration pilot proposed by the Scottish Government. The answer did not address why this proposal was not being engaged with.

How: Reiterating Uk-Wide Policy, Rejecting Need For Local Solutions

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Q3 Tom Hunt
Immigration Housing Community Security
Context

When considering the level of net migration, it is important to consider not just economic impact but also social and cultural impacts.

Question

Should we not also think about the social and cultural impact of high levels of legal migration on public services like housing and community cohesion?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

It is correct that we must consider the impact of large amounts of legal migration on housing, access to public services, community cohesion, and integration. The Government takes these issues seriously.

Answered
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Q4 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Immigration NHS
Context

Net migration remains high in Scotland despite repeated warnings from Labour about the need to train home-grown talent.

Question

Ending small boat crossings is one way to reduce immigration, but asylum seekers are only a fraction of net migration. The reason businesses rely on migrant labour is that Conservative governments have cut skills budgets and failed to get people off NHS waiting lists. Is the Home Secretary committed to the 2019 manifesto pledge of bringing net migration below 226,000?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

Let us be clear: this party wants to bring down net migration. I have no idea what Labour wants to do; their last government had an open-door policy on migration. We will control migration, unlike Labour's approach.

How: Criticising Opposition, Deflecting With Historical References

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