Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Scottish Work Visa Scheme

Wednesday 29 November 2023 · 7 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

  • Ministerial Questions discussed the potential merits of devolving the power to introduce a Scottish work visa scheme to the Scottish Government.
  • The UK Government highlighted a specific Scottish occupation list for shortages and the salary rate set at 20,960 as part of the current immigration system.
  • The Secretary of State stressed the importance of treating immigration equally across the whole United Kingdom to maintain the Union.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Deidre Brock SNP
Immigration Scotland
Context

MP questions the merits of devolving immigration powers specifically for Scotland.

Question

If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of devolving the power to introduce a Scottish work visa scheme to the Scottish Government.

Answer from Alister Jack

The United Kingdom Government have introduced a single, flexible immigration system that works in the interest of the whole United Kingdom. A separate visa system would create an economic migration border between Scotland and the rest of the UK, which would be harmful for employers and far less attractive for workers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment or commitment to devolution was not given

How: Harmful For Employers, Far Less Attractive For Workers

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Q2 Douglas Chapman SNP
Immigration Scotland Business & Trade
Context

CBI conference raised concerns about job vacancies, especially in hospitality and food production. Suggested localised work visa solutions by Fraser of Allander Institute and highlands MSP Kate Forbes.

Question

Last week, the CBI conference raised the serious issue of a lack of people to do vital jobs that we need filling, especially in hospitality and food production. Both the Fraser of Allander Institute and the highlands MSP Kate Forbes have suggested localised worker visa solutions to boost the economy. Why is the Secretary of State not listening to those smart voices, and why is he not acting in the best interests of the Scottish economy?

Answer from Alister Jack

Because we have a specific Scottish occupation list for shortages, which gives us flexibility. The salary rate is set at £20,960. We believe that the best way is for stakeholder bodies to make representations to the Home Office to add to the shortage occupation list.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific explanation or commitment was not provided

How: Specific Scottish Occupation List, Stakeholder Bodies

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Q3 Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Immigration Taxation Housing Local Government
Context

Five years ago, the Migration Advisory Committee stated that the current system was failing remote communities. Argyll and Bute is suffering from depopulation, particularly Rothesay.

Question

Five years ago, the Migration Advisory Committee said that the current system was failing remote communities. Recently published figures show that my Argyll and Bute constituency is suffering further depopulation, with the town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute particularly badly affected. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the Government still insist that the current system delivers for all parts of the UK. Will the Secretary of State explain how a one-size-fits-all policy, simultaneous catering for the vastly different needs of densely populated urban areas and Argyll and Bute, can deliver equally for both?

Answer from Alister Jack

Argyll and Bute is a beautiful part of the United Kingdom, but what it lacks is infrastructure, public services and affordable housing, because the Scottish Government have failed in all those areas. What it also has, with the rest of Scotland, is the problem of being the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom. That is the problem the Scottish Government have to address.

Not addressed: Effectiveness of one-size-fits-all immigration policy not addressed

How: Infrastructure, Public Services, Affordable Housing

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Q4 Deidre Brock SNP
Employment Scotland Brexit
Context

UKHospitality Scotland claims that the labour gaps left by excluding EU workers have not been filled, leaving many specialist job vacancies.

Question

The UK Government said that post-Brexit domestic employment would fill labour gaps, but the executive director of UKHospitality Scotland has said that the gaps left by excluding EU workers have not been filled, leaving huge numbers of specialist vacancies, such as for chefs and managers. When will this Government accept reality and stop destroying Scotland's economy in the name of a purist Brexit ideology?

Answer from Alister Jack

I think the hon. Lady lives in a parallel universe. We have the highest net migration to the UK since records began, far higher than when we were in the EU. As I say, if we want to attract people to Scotland, we must stop making it the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom.

Not addressed: Reality about labour gaps not addressed

How: Parallel Universe, Highest Net Migration

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Q5 Kevin Foster Con
Immigration Scotland Wales Local Government
Context

Secretary of State identified that some want to use immigration policy to enforce a hard border between England and Scotland as part of an aim to break up the Union.

Question

The Secretary of State has correctly identified that there are some who want to use immigration policy to enforce a hard border between England and Scotland as part of their aim to break up the Union. Does he agree, and in his assessment did he identify, that we need to ensure that immigration policy is not used as an alternative to offering the rewarding packages that key workers deserve?

Answer from Alister Jack

Absolutely. We are one United Kingdom. We have no physical border. It is important that we treat immigration equally across the whole United Kingdom and give everyone equal opportunity.

Answered
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Q6 Tommy Sheppard SNP
Immigration Scotland
Context

Questioning the administration of work permits for people from overseas who wish to work temporarily in Scotland, suggesting it should be administered locally.

Question

Let me be clear: we are talking about the administration of work permits for people from overseas who wish to work in Scotland on a temporary basis. Just about everyone thinks it would be better administered in Scotland, but the Secretary of State insists that it should be centralised by his Government in Westminster. His argument would be plausible if the UK demonstrated that it is managing the migration service well but, given the catastrophe that is the UK immigration system, when will he wake up and realise this would be better done in Scotland, by the people who live there?

Answer from Alister Jack

I point the hon. Gentleman to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme. That is 45,000 people, with the ability to flex it up to 55,000. Those people come to work in a flexible system across the United Kingdom, and it has proved to be a huge success.

Not addressed: Local administration of work permits not addressed

How: Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme, Flexible System

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Q7 Tommy Sheppard SNP
Immigration Scotland
Context

Secretary of State is standing against everyone, including experts, academics, industry representatives, and even the majority opinion in Scotland.

Question

The Secretary of State is standing against everyone. He is standing against experts, against academics, against representatives of industry and even against the people of Scotland, only 28% of whom think immigration is too high. More than six in 10 think more immigration would benefit the country. When is he going to stop being the Secretary of State against Scotland and be the Secretary of State for Scotland?

Answer from Alister Jack

It is good that the hon. Gentleman's lines are written by Mike Russell. That is an old one, and not a very good one. The reality is that Scotland is the most taxed part of the United Kingdom, which is not attractive for people to work there. We have the highest ever net migration. If the Scottish Government focus more on good public services, good infrastructure and lower taxation, hopefully those high net migration figures will see more people settle in Scotland.

Not addressed: Turning point not addressed

How: Taxed Part Of Uk, High Net Migration

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