Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Scottish Visa Scheme

Monday 21 October 2024 · 3 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

  • Scottish Government has been informed that the UK government is not introducing a Scottish visa scheme or devolving control of immigration policy.
  • Net migration must decrease, according to the UK government, as it trebled under the previous government.
  • The UK government is committed to working with the Scottish Government on population issues through investment in jobs, infrastructure, and public services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Pete Wishart SNP Perth and Kinross-shire
Immigration Scotland
Context

The Scottish National Party is pushing for the devolution of power to introduce a visa scheme specific to Scotland. This proposal aims to address unique demographic challenges.

Question

What discussions has she had with the Scottish Government on the potential merits of devolving the power to introduce a Scottish visa scheme?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

We are not introducing a Scottish visa scheme or devolving control of immigration policy, and this has been made clear to the Scottish Government. Instead, we must address skills shortages and overseas recruitment across the UK.

Answered
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Q2 Pete Wishart SNP Perth and Kinross-shire
Immigration Scotland
Context

Scotland faces demographic challenges, including depopulation in some areas and overpopulation in others. The Scottish Government is calling for urgent action on immigration.

Question

Given that Scotland has a range of demographic issues affecting every sector from social care to hospitality, why does she not work with us to see if a devolved visa scheme might actually work?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

Net migration must come down, which trebled under the last government. Immigration is a reserved matter and previous schemes have succeeded only in restricting movement and rights, creating internal UK borders.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Working with Scottish Government on devolved visa scheme

How: Adding Different Rules For Different Locations Would Increase Complexity

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Q3 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Scotland
Context

Scotland faces demographic challenges, with some areas experiencing depopulation while others see population growth. The current Scottish Government's strategy has not adequately addressed these issues.

Question

Given the diverse demographics in Scotland and the unique challenges faced by East Lothian, will she commit to working constructively with the Scottish Government on their woeful population strategy?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

We are committed to working with the Scottish Government. Many levers to address depopulation in Scotland are already within their powers, and we must tackle issues together through investment in jobs, infrastructure, and public services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to work constructively on population strategy

How: Committed To Working With The Scottish Government But No Specific Actions

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