The Scottish Government will today set out how an independent
Scotland could use new migration powers to boost the working
population, the economy and public services.
Migration to Scotland after Independence – the sixth paper in the
Building a New Scotland series – will be launched today (Friday 3
November) by Social Justice Secretary .
Ms Somerville said:
“People who come to live and work in Scotland are vital to our
country’s future – not only for the contribution they make to our
culture and communities, but also for supporting economic growth
and sustaining public services.
“The proposals in this paper, including new visa routes and
agencies, would support people with a wide range of skills to
make Scotland their home. Independence is essential in order to
get the powers Scotland needs to build a migration system that
works for every part of our country and which has dignity,
fairness and respect at its core.
“The UK Government’s Brexit policy and its approach to migration
and asylum do not reflect the attitudes of most people in
Scotland and are damaging our economy: we need to boost our
working population, not reduce it.
“Under current constitutional arrangements Scotland’s population
is projected to fall, so I look forward to discussing the
opportunities that independence and control of migration policy
will bring.”
Background
Building a New Scotland
Building a New
Scotland series
Migration to Scotland after Independence will be the sixth paper
to be published. The five previous papers set out evidence
showing independent countries comparable to Scotland are
wealthier and fairer than the UK; how Scottish democracy can be
renewed with independence; the macroeconomic framework,
including currency arrangements, for an independent Scotland; how
a written constitution could put democracy, rights and equality
at the heart of everything we do; and an approach to citizenship
in an independent Scotland.
