This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New managed migration policy
07/03/2006
Specific Scottish flexibilities that have been included in the new managed migration system announced today by the Home Office.
First Minister Jack McConnell said he and his officials have worked very closely with the Home Office for many months now and that the final package 'deals us a very strong hand when it comes to attracting the best talent to Scotland and keeping it here'.
The command paper describes a points-based system which includes:
- the Skills Advisory Body will produce a Scotland-wide shortage occupation list
- the qualifying period for settlement for migrants in Scotland will be reduced under Tiers 1 and 2
- the current Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be subsumed under Tier 1: Post Study (following an evaluation of how it is working in practice). This will continue to give overseas students who have studied in Scotland the opportunity to gain additional work experience before switching into mainstream Tier 1 or Tier 2 if they have sufficient points
Mr McConnell said:
"Attracting Fresh Talent is absolutely vital to the economic future of Scotland. We have worked very closely with the Home Office over a long period to make sure that Scotland's specific needs were recognised in the new managed migration system announced today. We have achieved that. The package unveiled today allows us to attract and, equally importantly, retain the talented people who want to live and work in Scotland.
"Scotland will have a Shortage Occupation List which will provide sufficient points to enter the UK for those with a job offer in an occupation covered by the list. This will be targeted at Scotland's specific labour market needs even if these are different from the rest of the UK.
"There will also be a special fast track to allow certain migrants to stay in Scotland indefinitely if they have lived and worked in Scotland during their qualifying period. We will be able to significantly reduce the qualifying period for settlement for certain migrants who have demonstrated a commitment to Scotland.
"And the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be incorporated into the new top tier of the managed migration system which provides the greatest flexibility and access to the labour market.
"These measures will be great strengths for Scotland. I am pleased that the Home Office and their Ministers have shown a willingness to work with us and listen to the case we have made to them. The command paper published today deals us a very strong hand when it comes to attracting the best talent to Scotland and keeping it here."
Under the current Work permit system, some occupations are on a UK shortage occupation list which makes it easier for employers to obtain a work permit. Under the new system this will turn into a UK Shortage Occupation List for workers under tier 2. The intention is to supplement this list with a specific Scottish SOL. This will make it easier to come to Scotland if you have the right skills and talents to fill an occupation shortage identified for Scotland. This is all about attracting the right people to Scotland.
At present someone granted a work permit to work in the UK would expect to wait four years before being able to be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain. Under the proposals announced today that will rise to 5 years. However certain migrants working in Scotland in tiers 1 and tier 2 could be granted ILR much earlier than five years.
The Executive yesterday issued a progress report on Fresh Talent. The document gave an overview of the progress against each of the recommendations contained in the New Scots report which was launched by the First Minister in February 2004 to herald the start of the Fresh Talent initiative.
The report showed that, since its launch in 2004, the Relocation Advisory Service the service has provided in-depth advice to over 8,700 customers from over 135 countries. This support has included providing information on a wide range of topics, including advice on work permits and visas, details about registering children in local schools and the regulations for bringing pets into the country. Over 250,000 people have visited the website www.scotlandistheplace.com to find out about living and working in Scotland.
It also contained figures on the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme, which came into effect on 22 June 2005. In the first seven months, there are over 1,500 successful applicants from over 75 countries. This scheme enables international students who successfully complete an HND, degree or post-graduate qualification at a Scottish University apply to live and work in Scotland for 2 years without requiring a work permit. At the end of the 2 years, successful applicants can choose to stay in Scotland by applying to another managed migration route (eg. a work permit, Highly Skilled Migrant Programme).