- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 25 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how often it will provide information and statistics on applicants to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme and what the status is of the applications.
Answer
I refer the memberto the answer given to S2W-17513 answered on 25 July 2005.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 25 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had into the decision on fee levels for visas for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has beenworking closely with the Home Office on the development of the scheme. However,issues regarding the administrative charges for the processing of application area matter for the Home Office and UK Visas. The fees for the Fresh Talent: Workingin Scotland scheme are the same as other comparable managed migrationschemes.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 25 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the potential saving of circa1.5 million per annum that it is suggested would be achieved fromoff-shoring would be retained by Caledonian MacBrayne to provide increased services or clawed back by the Executive.
Answer
Caledonian MacBrayne has not yet decided whether it intends topursue offshore crewing arrangements. If it does, I will consider the issue of theuse of the savings taking into account the pressures faced by the company and thosearising elsewhere across the transport programme.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 25 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the difference is between the cost of applying for a Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme visa from within the United Kingdom and applying from outside the United Kingdom and what the reasons are for any difference.
Answer
The application fee for leaveto remain under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme when applying fromwithin the UK is set by the Home Office. The fee is £335 for applicationsby post and £500 when applying in person at one of the Public Enquiry Offices.
The application fee under thescheme for entry clearance from outside the UK is £85 and is set by UK Visas.
Fee rates for the Fresh Talent:Working in Scotland scheme are the same as other comparable managed migrationschemes and are a matter for the respective administrative department.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 15 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the fee charged for a Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme visa when applied for from outside the European Union, broken down by country.
Answer
The entry clearance fee foranyone looking to return to Scotland under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotlandscheme, irrespective of their country of origin, is £85.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how it definesan appropriate period in the statement thatto be granted leave under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme you must.have lived in Scotland for an appropriate period, as set out in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland eligibility criteria.
Answer
The Home Office will administer the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.
Under the scheme the suitability of the period of time spent living in Scotland will be assessed by the immigration caseworker or entry clearance officer on the facts of each application, but the following should be used as general guidance:
For courses lasting one academic year, the student can normally be expected to have lived in Scotland for at least three months.
For courses lasting two academic years, the student can normally be expected to have lived in Scotland for at least six months.
For courses lasting three academic years, the student can normally be expected to have lived in Scotland for at least 12 months.
This advice is contained in the guidance on the scheme, which is available through the Scottish Executive and Home Office websites.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will make available to migrants under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme who wish to apply for more permanent visa status.
Answer
Expert advice and assistance on UK immigration matters is available from the Relocation Advisory Service to anyone, including applicants to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, seeking to live and work in Scotland. However, decisions on individual applications are a matter for the Home Office.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific targets it has in respect of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme for the (a) number of applications, (b) number of successful applications and (c) uptake of successful applications.
Answer
We do not intend to set specific numerical targets for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme at this early stage. We have promoted the scheme widely, but it will be a matter for individual students, depending on their personal circumstances, on whether they choose to apply for the scheme. However, as we evaluate the scheme we will be sure to consider how we can develop the scheme further and ensure its continuing success.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to encourage those taking part in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme to remain in Scotland following the expiration of the initial two-year visa.
Answer
As part of the evaluation of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme we will aim to keep in touch with applicants via the Relocation Advisory Service and provide assistance and support where necessary.
It is open to participants in the scheme to switch into work permit employment at any point during the two years. Such work permits will only be issued for employment within Scotland.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 July 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that Fresh Talent scheme visa holders remain in Scotland for the two-year period specified in the scheme and do not relocate to other parts of the United Kingdom.
Answer
The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme aims to attract international students to study, live and work in Scotland, but there will be no question of border controls. Scotland has much to offer and we are confident that applicants will remain and live and work in Scotland.
