Home / Sources / Select Committees / Scottish Affairs Committee / Immigration and Scotland inquiry
Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee

Immigration and Scotland inquiry

Closed Opened 11 Oct 2017 Closed 21 Feb 2019

Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
This inquiry seeks to investigate: What level of immigration to Scotland is required to meet the needs of the Scottish economy? How do these needs vary by sector? How do these needs compare to other parts of the UK? Does the UK’s current immigration framework adequately provide for Scotland’s needs? If not, how could the UK's immigration framework be changed to better meet Scotland’s needs? What is the experience of Scottish businesses in employing non-UK nationals, and how could this be improved? What post-Brexit immigration arrangements for EU citizens would best meet Scotland’s needs? The Committee are particularly keen to hear from members of underrepresented groups. Evidence will be accepted at least until the end of March 2018, but meetings and oral evidence sessions will begin in mid-November. Written submissions sent in before then will be able to inform those discussions.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 11 October 2017.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 4th Report - Immigration and Scotland on 11 July 2018.

The government's response

Published 27 May 2022.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government's response, received on 25 April 2022 and acknowledged as delayed, sets out changes to the immigration system since the 2018 report and addresses the original points "as far as they are still relevant".

  • The Government says the points-based system has made it easier for employers in Scotland to recruit from overseas, citing a lower headline salary threshold of £25,600 (previously £30,000) and no cap on skilled workers.
  • It has retained the Scotland-only Shortage Occupation List, and says the Migration Advisory Committee "will be tasked with reviewing the SOL" later this year.
  • The Seasonal Worker route is extended until the end of 2024, "at which point the position will be reviewed". Visa numbers will "begin to taper down from 2023", as the sector "must do more" to attract resident workers.
  • On engagement, it says it is "keen to ensure that we engage effectively in Scotland" and that a new Home Office policy team "is due to be located" in Edinburgh.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 9 oral evidence sessionsLatest 27 March 2018
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

Date Session and witnesses Source
27 Mar 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
20 Mar 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
13 Mar 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
20 Feb 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
30 Jan 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
16 Jan 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
18 Dec 2017
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
27 Nov 2017
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
14 Nov 2017
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

PublishedDirectionLetter
12 Jun 2018 From committee Letter to the Chair from Dr Allan MSP on Immgiration and Scotland, 31 May 2018