Oral Answers to Questions

Tommy Sheppard Excerpts

Monday 23rd January 2017 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) (SNP)]

1. If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying different immigration rules to Scotland and other constituent parts of the UK.

[John Nicolson (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP)]

10. If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying different immigration rules to Scotland and other constituent parts of the UK.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd)]

Immigration remains a reserved matter and we will consider the needs of the UK as a whole. Applying different immigration rules to different parts of the UK would complicate the immigration system, harming its integrity, and cause difficulties for employers who need the flexibility to deploy their staff across the UK.

[Tommy Sheppard]

That is a very disappointing response, infused with arrogance and complacency. Many large countries, such as Canada and Australia, have regional variations in their immigration and visa policies in order to take account of diverse and complicated local economic circumstances. Is it not foolhardy for the Government at this very early stage to rule out the prospect of doing that in the regions and nations of the United Kingdom?

[Amber Rudd]

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman shares my view that any policy changes should be informed by the facts and by assessments, which is why we consulted the Migration Advisory Committee to look at regional issues, and it was unequivocal in its conclusions. I urge him to look at its report.