The UK Government has dismissed the idea of a bespoke Scottish visa scheme.

It comes after reports suggested that Labour were considering the policy to help combat unique migration issues facing Scotland. 

In a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday, MP for Glasgow East John Grady said the party wanted to bring more workers to Scotland and suggested that the new UK Government may be working on proposals.

The Times later reported that this included proposals for a separate Scottish visa.

But the Home Office slapped down the suggestion that a Scottish visa was being considered.

A Home Office spokesperson told The National: “This is not government policy and not something the Home Secretary is considering.”

It comes as SNP MP Stephen Gethins (below) is set to table a bill on Thursday seeking an amendment to the Scotland Act 1998 to enable the Scottish Government to set up a Scottish visa.

(Image: NQ) It is believed a separate Scottish system could be set up based on different tax codes north of the border, with Gethins saying it would allow Holyrood to "tackle the Brexit-born staff shortages that have inflicted pain and hardship upon our NHS and Scottish businesses".

The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP added that the social care sector was "crying out for workers". 

He went on: “We stand ready to work with the Labour government to make this happen and the onus is now on them to step up to the plate, but if they refuse then it’s only right that Holyrood is given the power to take action and introduce a unique Scottish visa."

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Gethins raised the issue at a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday.

Grady then appeared to suggest the scheme was perhaps under consideration.

He responded: "Scottish Labour and the Labour Party are in favour of bringing talented people into Scotland, and the Scottish Government are welcome to work with us as we seek to ensure that that takes place.

"As I understand it, the home secretary is determined to ensure that it does, and I also understand that the migration advisory committee is looking at the issue carefully."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie previously suggested in an interview with The National’s sister paper The Herald in June that there could be “discussions” around a separate visa system to address Scotland’s immigration needs.

However, John Swinney cast doubt on the possibility of a scheme coming about in response.

Speaking before the General Election in July, he said: “I welcome it because if it's an indication of some of the practical steps that might come from intergovernmental relations with an incoming Labour Government, then nobody will engage in that more strongly than me.”

Swinney went on: “Let’s see what happens. I'll certainly engage in that, because we need a solution like that.

“If I take you back 20 years, the previous Labour-Liberal executive brought forward a fresh talent initiative which we supported in opposition because we recognised it was something that would benefit Scotland.

“I'll work constructively to try to take forward measures like that – but just allow me to put the point forward that the Labour Party has taken a very, very hostile attitude towards migration and we'd have to see how that would work out in practice.”