WESTMINSTER’S Scottish Affairs Committee is to hold an inquiry into the “effectiveness of UK immigration policy in Scotland”.
The cross-party group of MPs will examine how well the current system meets the country’s needs and look at how easy it will be for non-UK citizens to move to Scotland after Brexit.
Scottish Ministers have argued that, given concerns over demographics north of the Border, immigration should be devolved rather than controlled by the UK Government.
The committee said a key part of its inquiry will focus on the impact of the UK leaving the EU and the likely implications for the free movement of EU nationals.
It will examine the importance of low-skilled or seasonal immigration to the Scottish economy and investigate how this could be replicated post-Brexit.
SNP MP Pete Wishart, who chairs the committee, said: “Scotland is proud to be a multi-cultural nation whose population is made up of people from all across the world and it is widely acknowledged that continued migration from EU and non-EU nations is essential to our future success.
“In the last Parliament, this committee repeatedly heard that the current immigration system doesn’t meet the needs of Scotland and Brexit raises new questions about how easy it will be for EU nationals to move here in the future.
“This inquiry will seek to establish what Scotland’s future migration needs will be and how these can be met.”
There is wide-ranging support for Scotland to have control over its own immigration policy, with all the parties in Holyrood being more open to immigrants coming to Scotland than their colleagues in Westminster.
Businesses say slashing migration figures, as the UK Government aim to do, will have a particularly large impact in Scotland, where there are not enough people to do the jobs that exist.
An ageing population more reliant on the state for help also needs a much broader tax base, which can only be achieved through immigration.
Nicola Sturgeon used the 20th anniversary of the Scottish devolution referendum to push for greater powers over immigration.
Sturgeon said the Prime Minister’s target was based on “ideology rather than any rational consideration” and could be “devastating”.
“Let’s be clear what that would mean for Scotland,” the First Minister said.
“It would place a bigger burden on today’s young people. It raises again the likelihood of a falling working population. And that in turn would mean skills shortages, fewer jobs and fewer taxpayers to pay for a growing demand for public services.
“A debate and target driven largely by the needs and priorities of other parts of the UK could have devastating consequences for our economy and society.”
Earlier this year, Scottish Secretary David Mundell categorically ruled out powers over immigration being devolved to Holyrood.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here