THE Scottish Minister for International Development and Europe has praised the contribution of migrants to the Scottish economy, saying “Scotland needs people from other countries to come and live here”.
Alasdair Allan met groups working with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers at an event in Glasgow to mark the UN’s International Migrants Day.
He also met people from across the European Union who are living in Scotland at the celebration at Pollokshields Burgh Hall on Sunday.
He criticised the Conservatives’ target to reduce net migration to tens of thousands a year and said Scotland’s 369,000 migrants helped boost the population and workforce.
He told BBC Reporting Scotland: “The net target on migration we don’t think is particularly helpful for Scotland. Scotland’s a country that needs people from other countries to come and live here.
“Our population has been flat-lining or in some years declining for most of the last 50 years ... we realise that if we are going to grow our workforce, if we are going to grow our communities and grow our population, we cannot do that without people coming from elsewhere.”
Allan watched a performance by the Maryhill Integration Network’s Joyous Choir, which is open to all women. The singers help support the charity, which is aimed at bringing communities together through art, cultural and educational groups and pledges to “encourage cross-cultural understanding and celebrate diversity”.
He also watched a performance by the Colours of Life international dance group, which specialises in traditional folk dances from across the world.
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