Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2011
23 Feb 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Migration and Trafficking
Like other members, I congratulate the Equal Opportunities Committee, under the competent leadership of Margaret Mitchell, on looking into the issue. The report is comprehensive. The fact that it runs to 700 paragraphs reflects the number of evidence-taking sessions the committee undertook on a wide range of subjects.
The report is an invaluable piece of work that I am sure the Parliament and the Administration after the election will consider. It draws attention to many important migration and trafficking issues. We might not have considered data—which Jamie McGrigor mentioned—to be an issue when the inquiry started. To assess the impact of migration and to develop policies that are positive about migration, we need effective and consistent data across the UK and we need data to be shared in the UK and Scotland. It is disappointing that we have no Scottish subset of data.
Several members made good contributions on public awareness about migrants. Elaine Smith argued strongly that we still have much to do on public education. In the history of Scotland—particularly in the past 100 years—we have a proud tradition of bringing in people from other countries, who have settled and contributed here. However, that has not been without difficulties, and—sadly—that remains the case in 2011.
The media are partly to blame. As Stuart McMillan said, some terms that the media use about migrants are unacceptable. The points that the committee makes about public awareness are important not just for the Parliament but for the media and wider society to take forward.
We must continue to reinforce the message of fair treatment for migrants. It is sad that too many employers do not give migrant workers appropriate contracts. The committee’s report highlights that some employers withhold migrants’ passports, which is unacceptable. Migrants’ rights are undermined, as Richard Baker and Bill Kidd said. We must stand firm against the gangmasters on such issues.
Pointing out the contribution that migrants make is important—Christina McKelvie made an articulate comment on that. It is also important to give migrants appropriate access to services.
Malcolm Chisholm outlined how trafficking continues to grow. Robert Brown highlighted—as he has before—the fact that trafficking could be a problem in relation to the Commonwealth games. A major issue is that no prosecution for trafficking has occurred in Scotland. That might send the message that we are not as proactive in pursuing trafficking criminals as we should be, which lends weight to Richard Baker’s argument that legislation is required to reinforce prosecutors’ actions.
The debate has been excellent and the report is important. I am sure that the work will be taken forward.
17:18
The report is an invaluable piece of work that I am sure the Parliament and the Administration after the election will consider. It draws attention to many important migration and trafficking issues. We might not have considered data—which Jamie McGrigor mentioned—to be an issue when the inquiry started. To assess the impact of migration and to develop policies that are positive about migration, we need effective and consistent data across the UK and we need data to be shared in the UK and Scotland. It is disappointing that we have no Scottish subset of data.
Several members made good contributions on public awareness about migrants. Elaine Smith argued strongly that we still have much to do on public education. In the history of Scotland—particularly in the past 100 years—we have a proud tradition of bringing in people from other countries, who have settled and contributed here. However, that has not been without difficulties, and—sadly—that remains the case in 2011.
The media are partly to blame. As Stuart McMillan said, some terms that the media use about migrants are unacceptable. The points that the committee makes about public awareness are important not just for the Parliament but for the media and wider society to take forward.
We must continue to reinforce the message of fair treatment for migrants. It is sad that too many employers do not give migrant workers appropriate contracts. The committee’s report highlights that some employers withhold migrants’ passports, which is unacceptable. Migrants’ rights are undermined, as Richard Baker and Bill Kidd said. We must stand firm against the gangmasters on such issues.
Pointing out the contribution that migrants make is important—Christina McKelvie made an articulate comment on that. It is also important to give migrants appropriate access to services.
Malcolm Chisholm outlined how trafficking continues to grow. Robert Brown highlighted—as he has before—the fact that trafficking could be a problem in relation to the Commonwealth games. A major issue is that no prosecution for trafficking has occurred in Scotland. That might send the message that we are not as proactive in pursuing trafficking criminals as we should be, which lends weight to Richard Baker’s argument that legislation is required to reinforce prosecutors’ actions.
The debate has been excellent and the report is important. I am sure that the work will be taken forward.
17:18
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...