Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2011
23 Feb 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Migration and Trafficking
I associate myself with Mary Scanlon’s remarks about the length of the debate. Given that the report is one of the most substantial reports that the Equal Opportunities Committee has produced in any session of the Scottish Parliament, it strikes me as rather unfortunate, given the seriousness and importance of migration and trafficking issues, that the time allocated to debating it has been chopped and further chopped.
That said, it was a real pleasure and privilege to be part of the committee. This is a substantial piece of work and I thank the organisations and individuals who came and contributed so much to the information that we have presented here today.
The genesis of the inquiry was in the common misconceptions about migration. I hesitate to contradict the cabinet secretary but, no matter how much we want to believe it, Scotland has not necessarily always had a good reputation for accepting migrants, whether they came from the Highlands to the Lowlands or from across the Irish Sea. Part of our job in the 21st century is to begin to address some of the challenges with the community that we have now, and the report goes a considerable way towards doing that.
At this point, I pay tribute to the Scottish Refugee Council and the Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland. Those front-line organisations are often the first port of call for migration information.
That said, it was a real pleasure and privilege to be part of the committee. This is a substantial piece of work and I thank the organisations and individuals who came and contributed so much to the information that we have presented here today.
The genesis of the inquiry was in the common misconceptions about migration. I hesitate to contradict the cabinet secretary but, no matter how much we want to believe it, Scotland has not necessarily always had a good reputation for accepting migrants, whether they came from the Highlands to the Lowlands or from across the Irish Sea. Part of our job in the 21st century is to begin to address some of the challenges with the community that we have now, and the report goes a considerable way towards doing that.
At this point, I pay tribute to the Scottish Refugee Council and the Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland. Those front-line organisations are often the first port of call for migration information.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-7950, in the name of Margaret Mitchell, on the Equal Opportunities Committee’s report into migration and ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome today’s debate on the Equal Opportunities Committee’s migration and trafficking report. Our wide-ranging inquiry covered issues of both reserved an...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill)
SNP
I congratulate Margaret Mitchell and the Equal Opportunities Committee on securing the debate, which provides an opportunity to tackle important issues. I re...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD)
LD
In the ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer, the authorities have detected human trafficking for inhuman purposes, such as the sex trade. Why, therefore, were th...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
The Crown and the police take those matters very seriously. As Jim Hume will be aware, the UKBA’s withdrawal has affected the situation. Dumfries and Gallowa...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Is the Cabinet Secretary for Justice satisfied with the response from Damian Green, the Minister of State for Immigration? In particular, is he not satisfied...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
The arrangements are a matter of continuing concern. I appreciate that they are being reviewed south of the border, but we believe that they are prejudicial....
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the Equal Opportunities Committee’s inquiry into migration and trafficking, and the opportunity to debate the committee’s report.Issues that relate...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Some weeks ago, I spoke in the debate on the Equal Opportunities Committee’s excellent report on issues relating to the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (S...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
I associate myself with Mary Scanlon’s remarks about the length of the debate. Given that the report is one of the most substantial reports that the Equal Op...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I know that the Scottish Refugee Council is an organisation that is close to both our hearts. Does the member share my concern that the SRC’s information and...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
That point is well made and I share the member’s concern. In due course, individual members might consider communicating with George Osborne about that and a...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
The inquiry by the Equal Opportunities Committee was very important and it will make an important contribution to public discourse about migration in Scotlan...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
Given the short time that we have for speeches, I will limit my remarks to the scourge of human trafficking, which is, according the UN Office on Drugs and C...
Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, express my thanks to the clerking team for their hard work and dedication throughout the inquiry. The committee ensured that a wide range of voices a...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Lab
Early in 1948, a plane deporting migrant workers from the United States to Mexico crashed. In his song “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”, Woody Guthrie displayed hi...
Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, thank the Equal Opportunities Committee for its report and Margaret Mitchell for her lucid and liberal introduction.Having lived and worked as an eco...
Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to take part in this debate on the Equal Opportunities Committee’s report on migration and trafficking because I was a member of the committee w...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD)
LD
I join others in thanking the Equal Opportunities Committee for its work on this matter. The report is substantial, has on-going aspirations and will be supp...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to close this important debate for the Scottish Conservatives. Like other members, I pay tribute to the excellent work of my friend Margaret Mit...
James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
Like other members, I congratulate the Equal Opportunities Committee, under the competent leadership of Margaret Mitchell, on looking into the issue. The rep...
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
The debate has been interesting and helpful. The view in the chamber on migration and trafficking has been universal. Like everyone else, I commend the commi...
Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It was over a year ago that the Equal Opportunities Committee decided to hold an inquiry into migration and trafficking. During the inquiry we heard from mor...