Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
10 Jan 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Asylum Policy and Legislation (United Kingdom Government)
I will come to that point later in my speech. The briefings that were provided for the debate make a very important case for that extension and it is something that colleagues across the UK should look at. I am more than happy to assist in trying to find resolutions to improve that situation and create more safeguards.
With regard to the minister’s comments about the 4,500 complex cases that have been highlighted, we know that those need additional checks and investigations. They are hard cases that often involve asylum seekers who present as children, where age verification must take place; with serious medical issues; or with suspected past convictions that need to be checked. There is therefore more complexity to those cases.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-11803, in the name of Emma Roddick, on the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legislation in Scotl...
The Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees (Emma Roddick)
SNP
We recognise that, unfortunately, asylum policy is currently reserved to the UK Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998. The Scottish Government has been clea...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am sure that the minister will want to note that that suggestion, which came from civil servants, was not taken forward by the UK Labour Government and was...
Emma Roddick
SNP
I will certainly be pleasantly surprised if a Labour Government comes in at the next UK election and makes big changes compared to the UK Government that we ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I gently remind members who are looking to participate in the debate but have not yet pressed their request-to-speak button to do so now or as soon as possib...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The United Kingdom has a proud history of supporting refugees. Since 2015, as a country, we have offered a home to more than half a million men, women and ch...
Emma Roddick
SNP
Given that the member has a keen interest in housing and homelessness issues, will he back our calls for the UK Government to extend the move-on period for p...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back for the intervention, Mr Briggs.
Miles Briggs
Con
I will come to that point later in my speech. The briefings that were provided for the debate make a very important case for that extension and it is somethi...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Does Miles Briggs recognise that the values that the UK Border Agency employs in matters such as age verification do not necessarily match the values that we...
Miles Briggs
Con
How verification can take place has changed. That process has seen reforms from the UK Government recently, which should be welcomed. Documentation is a key ...
The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development (Christina McKelvie)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Miles Briggs
Con
I want to make some progress. I have taken two interventions and I am not sure that the Deputy Presiding Officer would give me that much time back. Uncontro...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that we have a bit of time in hand, so members who take interventions will get the time back. 15:16
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
We gather in a new year but, in many ways, not much has changed on the issues that we are debating or the approaches that are being taken to asylum policy an...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Paul O’Kane
Lab
I will finish this point and then I will give way. It is disingenuous to say that there would be no change with a Labour Government.
Donald Cameron
Con
Would a future Labour Government—were the hypothetical situation to arise in which we had a Labour Government—process applications abroad?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that, even if they are quoting other members, there are still requirements that must be met with regard to the language that is used in the ...
Paul O’Kane
Lab
I am very sorry, Deputy Presiding Officer. I blame Yvette Cooper rather than myself, but I take the point, which was well made. I apologise to any colleagues...
Emma Roddick
SNP
Will the member give way?
Paul O’Kane
Lab
I will.
Emma Roddick
SNP
I would absolutely love to be able to provide more information but, as the member will know, we are still in the position in which we are desperately asking ...
Paul O’Kane
Lab
That said, the Scottish Refugee Council has highlighted a number of issues on which action could be prepared and planned. It is incumbent on us and on the Go...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the Government for bringing the motion to Parliament this afternoon. As Paul O’Kane said, here we are again. It is vitally important that th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Before we move to the open debate, I give a timely reminder to members who are participating in the debate that they should remain for opening and closing sp...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Article 14 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads: “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from pe...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to take part in this debate, but not because of the Scottish Government’s position in its motion. Its attack on UK Government migration policy...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
On partnership working, Glasgow could face having to welcome hundreds of families who have had positive decisions on their asylum claims entering Glasgow’s h...
Donald Cameron
Con
My response to that is to point Bob Doris to the comments of his party colleague Susan Aitken, who said that she would fight plans to relocate more asylum se...