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Rural Depopulation — [Valerie Vaz in the Chair]
11 September 2024
Lead MP
Torcuil Crichton
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Lab
Responding Minister
Seema Malhotra
Tags
ImmigrationHousingEmploymentNorthern Ireland
Word Count: 13470
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Torcuil Crichton raised concerns about rural depopulation — [valerie vaz in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The UK Government should consider rural visa projects for areas like the Western Isles that need skilled workers. The Minister is urged to address issues related to crofting tenure, housing affordability, economic incentives, state aid, VAT reduction on construction, enhanced capital allowances, and community ownership of land.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Western Isles are experiencing a depopulation crisis, with the population decreasing by 5.5% since the 2011 census and the highest percentage decrease in Scotland. The working-age population is set to decrease by 6% by 2028 while the over-75 population is set to rise by 25%. There are significant challenges such as a lack of affordable housing, poor transport connections, limited health provision, and inadequate childcare which contribute to this crisis.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
The hon. Member is aware that the problem with skilled migrant workers' definition is narrow, involving criteria such as an English language test that do not match job requirements in rural areas. He encourages the Home Office to reconsider these issues seriously. Mr Carmichael discussed the importance of a balanced community mix for sustaining population growth in island communities. He highlighted how his own experience exemplifies depopulation trends, noting that Orkney's population of about 22,000 allows for professional sustainability but smaller islands like Islay face challenges due to their smaller populations. He emphasized the role of well-paid jobs and diverse employment opportunities in attracting and retaining residents, citing historical growth in Shetland following the oil industry boom. Additionally, he stressed the importance of housing solutions tailored to local needs and infrastructure improvements such as digital connectivity and reliable ferry services for internal transportation. The hon. Member proposed a training programme for deckhands in fishing communities as a long-term solution, while advocating for collaborative efforts between the UK and Scottish governments to provide temporary visas for incoming crew members.
Angus MacDonald
Lib Dem
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
MacDonald focused on housing, transport, education, and connectivity issues in Scotland's highlands. He highlighted financial constraints preventing local councils from building more homes and the need for better infrastructure like roads and railways. Concerned about school closures and a decline in care home services, he advocated for attracting young people with well-paid jobs and affordable accommodation.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion Preseli
At the last census, Ceredigion recorded a 5.9% decrease in its overall population and communities in Preseli or Pembrokeshire saw their population flatline. The speaker raised concerns about the sustainability of public services such as schools, GPs, NHS dentists, and bank closures due to depopulation. Suggested that the UK should consider Australia's federal system, where territories and states can nominate key critical shortage occupations to boost their populations. He asked the Minister to take this experience into account in discussions with devolved Administrations.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Jamie Stone highlighted the historical impact of oil industry jobs in his area, noting that without high-quality employment, depopulation will continue. He mentioned challenges such as school staff recruitment and retention, carers' crisis due to a declining number of carers, and the loss of structural funding from the European Union. He also raised concerns about mothers having to travel over 200 miles for childbirth services in Caithness.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He expressed gratitude for living in a rural community and highlighted the positive aspects of rural life, such as community support and the embrace of daily rural activities. He noted that 36% of Northern Ireland's population lived in rural areas in 2020, with a growth rate of 20% between 2001 and 2020. He emphasised the importance of broadband connectivity, public transport, healthcare facilities, and community support for encouraging more people to live rurally. The right hon. Member welcomed the Minister and raised concerns about visa policies for fishermen in small villages such as Portavogie, Kilkeel, and Ardglass, seeking support from the government to help these communities.
Joe Morris
Lab
Hexham
He discussed the impact of rural depopulation in his constituency, highlighting a lack of jobs and opportunities forcing young people to move away. He mentioned businesses struggling with skills shortages and high housing costs, leading to economic decline. Emphasising the need for better support for both younger and older generations, Morris stressed the importance of addressing this issue to ensure communities can thrive.
John Cooper
Con
Dumfries and Galloway
John Cooper highlighted the multi-faceted issue of rural depopulation, emphasizing that it is not caused by a single factor. He discussed issues such as lack of job opportunities, poor connectivity, particularly public transport, and the challenges posed by Scotland's two-tier governance system. He pointed out problems with school quality being inconsistent across different regions in Scotland and the difficulties related to housing affordability.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Lizzi Collinge highlighted the issue of young people being forced to leave rural areas due to a lack of affordable housing, affecting key sectors such as agriculture and hospitality. She noted that rising house prices and a shortage of homes are pushing away potential workers, leading to economic stagnation. She emphasized the importance of building energy-efficient homes to address both affordability and sustainability issues.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton West
The hon. Member highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities in terms of childcare, labour shortages, and access to public services due to depopulation. He noted that rural areas cover 90% of UK land and contribute over £270 billion to England's economy. The previous government introduced local skills improvement plans, a new fund for rural investment, the towns fund with £3.6 billion in funding, and an additional £110 million for rural prosperity initiatives.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Scotland is facing a population decline, with the only projected decrease in the United Kingdom. The falling birth rate and ageing population exacerbate labour shortages across all sectors in rural areas, including the NHS, care sector, hospitality, tourism, and agriculture. There is an urgent need for a Scottish visa to attract immigrants and alleviate these issues. Asked Jim Shannon about recommendations he made as a special adviser regarding immigration routes to Scotland, given that immigration is reserved to the UK Government. Asked the Minister to give way.
Steve Witherden
Lab
Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr
The hon. Member expressed concerns about labour exploitation in the seasonal workers scheme under the previous Conservative government, urging the Minister to work with him on ideas to address this issue.
Government Response
Seema Malhotra
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar on his successful securing of this debate. The Government recognise the importance of this debate and the challenges faced by rural and island communities in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England, including supporting local economies and encouraging young people to stay in their areas. Migration has been raised as a key issue with net migration trebling over five years due to overseas recruitment. The government aims to control net migration while ensuring immigration supports the UK economy's needs. Proposals for regional visa schemes are under consideration, but there is currently no legal basis to restrict migrants to certain areas. Addressing depopulation requires improving housing, transport, infrastructure, and working conditions to make challenging careers more attractive. On housing, the Government have set out an overhaul of the planning system and introduced new mandatory housing targets aiming for 1.5 million affordable homes. A coherent link between labour market and migration policies is being established through collaboration with various bodies like Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions. The English language requirement is fundamental to successful integration, set at B1 on the common European framework of reference for languages. The Government will continue to understand the issues faced by Members in greater detail and consider how best to work collectively to address them.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.