Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 September 2019
17 Sep 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Family Migration
Today, the Scottish Government has raised the minimum income threshold for dependent family members who are seeking to come to the UK. In this case, there is a clear balance between migrants’ perfectly reasonable wish to bring family members and partners to live with them in the UK and Government’s responsibility to wider society. Quite legitimately, those who come to the UK do not always have recourse to public funds. In circumstances such as that, it is clear that a family member must be able to provide adequately for that person. We know that, under the current scheme, there are circumstances where different considerations apply—exceptional circumstances, such as situations where the right to a private and family life under the European convention on human rights is triggered.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-18885, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on the impact of the United Kingdom Government’s family migration pol...
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to focus on an issue that affects families and communities across Scotland. Many members in the chamber will have had experience of...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open for the Scottish Conservatives on the impact of the United Kingdom Government’s family migration policy on Scotland. Migration policy ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Will the member give way?
Alexander Stewart
Con
Time is tight, and I would like to make some progress. In anticipation of changes to migration policy following Brexit, the UK Government has commissioned ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Sorry to interrupt you, Mr Stewart. There is a little time in hand for interventions. It is entirely a matter for you, of course.
Alexander Stewart
Con
A points-based system will mean that we can prioritise what people can contribute to Scotland and the UK, rather than prioritise where they come from. Indeed...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I appreciate the member’s points. It has taken seven long years for the Tories to undo the damage that has been done. In the spirit of what Mr Stewart is say...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Stewart, you will get your time back.
Alexander Stewart
Con
If we need to come together, I do not see any obstacles to achieving that. As the cabinet secretary pointed out, if we work together, we can achieve things. ...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this afternoon’s debate on family migration policy. As the cabinet secretary said, the announcement on the post-study work visa is welcome, and th...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I welcome the Government’s motion on this issue. However, it is worded very diplomatically. It says that the UK has the “least family friendly immigration ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
We move to the open debate. I call Joan McAlpine.
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Excuse me, Presiding Officer, but I have a problem with my laptop.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Do you want to move to the next desk?
Joan McAlpine
SNP
It is not the desk; it is the laptop.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry—I misheard you. In that case, I call Fulton MacGregor. 16:14
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
It is no exaggeration to say that the UK’s family migration policy is one of the least family-friendly immigration policies in the developed world. The 2015 ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must close, please.
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I will close on that point, Presiding Officer. 16:18
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I, again, emphasise what I said during last week’s immigration debate: Scotland and the wider UK owe a great deal to migration. Historically, this country h...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The seasonal agricultural work pilot is tiny compared with the needs of the sector. On a related point, if we focus on the issue of the brightest and best gr...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
As Alexander Stewart said, we will work with the Scottish Government in areas where we agree on action that will be of benefit to Scotland. However, I am try...
The Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Halcro Johnston is just closing.
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
Today, the Scottish Government has raised the minimum income threshold for dependent family members who are seeking to come to the UK. In this case, there is...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must close.
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
There is a legitimate debate about how to apply minimum income requirements for the families of migrants who move here to work. However, we should be aware o...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We are running out of time, so I will have to cut the final speeches short; I will let those speakers know shortly by how much. At this point, I will have to...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I want to focus my remarks on refugees, who are the most vulnerable group of people who are affected by the rules that we are discussing. Among refugees, the...