Motion
The Impact of UK Government Asylum Policy and Legislation in Scotland
S6M-11803 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Roddick, Emma
Lodged on
08 Jan 2024Heard / answered on
10 Jan 2024Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 10 Jan 2024
That the Parliament recognises the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legislation in Scotland, including the effect of the complex asylum system on people who have applied for protection, restrictions on the right to work and limited support available to people awaiting a decision, the increased reliance on contingency asylum accommodation caused by a backlog in Home Office decision-making, risks of maximisation policy and inadequate engagement with Scottish local authorities or public services prior to procurement of contingency accommodation, the streamlined asylum process and limited move-on period allowed once a decision has been made, and consequent impact on both newly-recognised refugees and local authorities, and the restricting of the right to seek asylum in the UK under the Illegal Migration Act 2023; is opposed to the UK Government’s pursuit of plans to relocate people to third countries to have asylum claims considered there; recognises the ruling of the Supreme Court in relation to the safety of Rwanda, and acknowledges the comments of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) between the UK and Rwanda undermines the established international refugee protection system and that the UNHCR does not consider the MEDP to comply with the UK’s obligations under international law; notes the engagement of Scottish local authorities in asylum dispersal, and agrees that the UK Government needs to engage positively with devolved governments, local authorities and public services across asylum matters to reduce negative impacts on people, communities and services.
Backed by
Supported by 3 additional MSPs
SNP 2
Other 1
Lodged by
Roddick, Emma
(Scottish National Party).
Final vote on motion (no amendments carried)
10 Jan 2024
Carried
Show MSPs
For
89Against
30Abstain
0Not voted
10Amendments were lodged but none were carried; the motion was decided as originally lodged.
Computer-generated best guess
Possible final motion text as originally lodged
This is a computer’s best guess at applying carried amendments to the original motion text. It uses simple text rules for phrases such as “insert at end”, “after X insert Y”, and “leave out from X to end and insert Y”. Treat it as an aid, not the official motion text.
That the Parliament recognises the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legislation in Scotland, including the effect of the complex asylum system on people who have applied for protection, restrictions on the right to work and limited support available to people awaiting a decision, the increased reliance on contingency asylum accommodation caused by a backlog in Home Office decision-making, risks of maximisation policy and inadequate engagement with Scottish local authorities or public services prior to procurement of contingency accommodation, the streamlined asylum process and limited move-on period allowed once a decision has been made, and consequent impact on both newly-recognised refugees and local authorities, and the restricting of the right to seek asylum in the UK under the Illegal Migration Act 2023; is opposed to the UK Government’s pursuit of plans to relocate people to third countries to have asylum claims considered there; recognises the ruling of the Supreme Court in relation to the safety of Rwanda, and acknowledges the comments of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) between the UK and Rwanda undermines the established international refugee protection system and that the UNHCR does not consider the MEDP to comply with the UK’s obligations under international law; notes the engagement of Scottish local authorities in asylum dispersal, and agrees that the UK Government needs to engage positively with devolved governments, local authorities and public services across asylum matters to reduce negative impacts on people, communities and services.
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 5 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Chamber
· 10 Jan 2024 · Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
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 Scotland. I invite members who wish to partic…
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The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 10 Jan 2024 · Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is that amendment S6M-11803.1, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-11803, in the name o…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 10 Jan 2024 · Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
We move to the division on amendment S6M-11803.1, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-11803, in the name of Emma Roddick. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is cl…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 10 Jan 2024 · Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
The next question is, that motion S6M-11803.2, in the name of Paul O’Kane, which seeks to amend motion S6M-11803, in the name of Emma Roddick, on the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legisla…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 10 Jan 2024 · Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
The question is, that motion S6M-11803, in the name of Emma Roddick, on the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legislation in Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-11803Selected itemCarried 89/3008 Jan 2024 · Motion For Debate · Roddick, EmmaThat the Parliament recognises the impact of UK Government asylum policy and legislation in Scotland, including the effect of the complex asylum system on people who have applied for protection, restrictions on the right to work and limited support available to people awaiting a decision, the increased reliance on contingency asylum accommodation caused b...
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S6M-11803.1Linked amendment/itemDefeated 30/8809 Jan 2024 · Amendment · Briggs, MilesAs an amendment to motion S6M-11803 in the name of Emma Roddick (The Impact of UK Government Asylum Policy and Legislation in Scotland), leave out from “the impact” to end and insert “that the topics of immigration and asylum are reserved to the UK Parliament and that it is therefore not within the competence of the Scottish Parliament t...
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S6M-11803.2Linked amendment/itemDefeated 20/9709 Jan 2024 · Amendment · O'Kane, PaulAs an amendment to motion S6M-11803 in the name of Emma Roddick (The Impact of UK Government Asylum Policy and Legislation in Scotland), insert at end “; acknowledges the pressure placed upon local government budgets after a decade of Scottish Government cuts; calls for fair funding settlements from the Scottish Government for local authorities; not...