First Minister has expressed “profound
concern” at the UK Government's migration polices.
Speaking at Forum, Prosper's economic conference, Mr Swinney said
the approach being pursued by the UK Government represents a
“critical threat” to Scotland's working-age population and
economic prosperity.
The First Minister said:
“Our working-age population is shrinking and we need that
population to grow.
“I am profoundly concerned by the direction of travel that
is being taken on migration.
“I made this point to the Prime Minister when I met him on Friday
– that the changing dynamics of our labour market and the need
for us to encourage migration to support our working age
population has to be recognised in the approach that is taken to
migration in the United Kingdom.
“Last week, in light of the publication of the UK Government's
white paper on immigration, I convened a discussion of
representatives from the food and drink sector, social care, the
NHS, education, construction and engineering to hear from them
first-hand.
“The social care sector told me that 26% of their workforce is of
international origin. If those individuals are not able to make a
contribution our social care system, then I don't know how we
will deliver a social care system in Scotland.
“I can see a significant economic threat to our prosperity if we
do not have a more mature approach to immigration. This is a
deadly serious issue for all of us.”
Background
The First Minister was speaking at Forum, Prosper's economic
conference, in Edinburgh this morning.
