Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
I absolutely agree. The National Records of Scotland, among others, forecasts double-digit reductions in population, particularly across coastal and island communities. That focuses on the working-age population, which masks the fact that we also have an ageing population.
Reversal of the depopulation trend and the restoration of economic vibrancy will not result from a single action. I have enough respect for my opponents across the chamber to know that we will approach the issue by understanding the multifaceted nature of the challenges, but it is the package of actions that we take that will ease the strain. In rural and island areas, there is a requirement to support housing, to deliver on key infrastructure projects and to improve transport links. It is also key—this is what I want to talk about today—that we call for tailored regional migration routes, such as a rural visa pilot. It is interesting that the development of a rural visa pilot enjoyed support from a number of different industries and sectors—indeed, at the time, it had support from across the Parliament as well.
We are quite concerned that the discourse around migration seems to be focused solely on reducing numbers instead of focusing on the needs of our economy and our diverse communities. That is what a rural visa would do—it would have us working very closely with employers to identify need.