Hansard

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 Mitchell and commend all the members, clerks and support staff of the Equal Opportunities Committee for another very thorough and useful report. Thanks should also go to all those who gave evidence, both oral and written. The debate has largely been constructive, as befits the subject, and there have been some excellent speeches. Given the importance of the issues that we have been talking about, the debate could have gone on for much longer.

One theme that emerges strongly in the report, which has been raised by several members today, is the lack of meaningful data about migrants who live and work in Scotland and the difficulties that that can cause. I hope that the UK Border Agency will seriously reconsider the committee’s suggestion that migration figures be produced on a Scotland basis, not just a UK basis. As we heard, the lack of meaningful migration data is felt especially acutely in the education sector, in which the planning of services is so important.

Paragraph 62 of the report talks about the working in Scotland scheme, which allowed international students the opportunity to remain in Scotland to work for up to two years following their graduation from a Scottish university or college. That scheme attracted more than 8,400 graduates—the brightest and best students from around the world—and seems to have been a very good idea. I happen to know that it was particularly valuable to those at art colleges who were able to stay here and paint some of Scotland after they finished their work in college.

The committee also makes important recommendations for tackling negative perceptions of migrants in Scotland. MSPs and other elected representatives have an important role to play in tackling prejudice and misconceptions. As Mary Scanlon rightly highlighted, businesses in the Highlands and Islands—not least those in the tourism and aquaculture sectors—and our public services have benefited hugely from the contribution of migrant workers. We need to recognise that and talk up the many positives that are associated with migration to Scotland.

The committee’s conclusions on trafficking are practical and common sense, and they will receive support from across the chamber. Human trafficking is a vile and malevolent trade that all agencies at every level must work to prevent, but we need accurate statistics to ensure that we are directing appropriate resources to tackle it. Close and effective working relationships between the Scottish and UK Governments are essential, so I welcome the response of Damian Green, the UK Minister for Immigration, to the committee’s report and the news that the UK Human Trafficking Centre will hold a trafficking training day in Glasgow for all agencies next month. It is also appropriate that the Scottish Government examine what more it can do to push forward an anti-trafficking agenda, raising awareness of the problem and the assistance that is available. In addition, the Scottish Conservatives acknowledge the important role that the voluntary sector plays in supporting migrants and the victims or potential victims of human trafficking.

As Margaret Mitchell and others have said, concerns have been expressed that the London Olympics next year and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games could lead to an increase in human trafficking, which makes the debate even more timely. It would be a travesty if the potential of those mega-events to achieve so much for nations across the globe was in any way negated by an increase in human suffering.

The Scottish Conservatives welcome the Equal Opportunities Committee report and the debate. The report is an important basis on which to move forward on these matters and will be of real use to the Government and the Parliament more widely in the years ahead.

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