That the Parliament notes that the Parliament has previously endorsed a motion calling for the development of a differentiated, more flexible migration policy tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs; celebrates the social, economic and cultural contribution made to Scotland by those who have chosen to live here; notes that the UK Government’s own immigration advisers concluded in 2019 that the UK migration system is not very effective in dealing with the particular problems that remote communities experience and recommended the establishment of a pilot scheme to support migration to rural areas, and that this recommendation was accepted by the then Home Secretary in a statement to the House of Commons in July 2019; further notes the distinct demographic challenges that Scotland faces, and that all of Scotland’s population growth is projected to come from migration; notes that the independent Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population concluded in its 2019 report that the demographic challenges for rural areas would be exacerbated by the ending of freedom of movement; further notes that the Fresh Talent scheme introduced in 2005 was a differentiated migration approach for Scotland, and calls on the UK Government to accept the Rural Visa Pilot proposal, which has been jointly developed by the Scottish Government, rural and island local authorities and rural employers, and to engage constructively to support the delivery of Rural Visa Pilots that meet the needs of rural communities.
Supported by:
Mairi Gougeon, Neil Gray, Jenni Minto, Evelyn Tweed
Result 79 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Monday, September 26, 2022
Supported by: Rhoda Grant, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Result 41 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, September 26, 2022
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Result 31 for, 77 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Beatrice Wishart, Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Monday, September 26, 2022
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, September 27, 2022