Motion
A Migration System that Works for Scotland
S6M-17906 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Forbes, Kate
Lodged on
10 Jun 2025Heard / answered on
12 Jun 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 12 Jun 2025
That the Parliament recognises the contribution to Scotland’s communities, public services and economy by those who have chosen to migrate to Scotland and build their lives here; notes that stakeholders from multiple sectors across Scotland have expressed significant concerns with the UK Government’s immigration white paper, and that proposals submitted by the Scottish Government to the Home Office were not included in the published paper; further notes that the Parliament has previously endorsed a motion calling for the development of a differentiated, more flexible migration policy, tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs; calls on the UK Government to engage with Scottish Government officials urgently to ensure that the needs of Scotland’s businesses, public services and communities are supported, rather than harmed, by the reforms outlined in the UK immigration white paper, and further calls on the UK Government to ensure that a new youth mobility scheme is designed, with engagement from young people across the UK nations, to be as broad and inclusive as possible, restoring the greatest freedom of movement for young people as can be agreed with the EU.
Backed by
Supported by 5 additional MSPs
SNP 5
Lodged by
Forbes, Kate
(Scottish National Party).
- Arthur, Tom (SNP)
- Lochhead, Richard (SNP)
- McLennan, Paul (SNP)
- Somerville, Shirley-Anne (SNP)
- Stewart, Kaukab (SNP)
Final vote on motion (no amendments carried)
12 Jun 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
67Against
42Abstain
0Not voted
20Amendments 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 contribution to Scotland’s communities, public services and economy by those who have chosen to migrate to Scotland and build their lives here; notes that stakeholders from multiple sectors across Scotland have expressed significant concerns with the UK Government’s immigration white paper, and that proposals submitted by the Scottish Government to the Home Office were not included in the published paper; further notes that the Parliament has previously endorsed a motion calling for the development of a differentiated, more flexible migration policy, tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs; calls on the UK Government to engage with Scottish Government officials urgently to ensure that the needs of Scotland’s businesses, public services and communities are supported, rather than harmed, by the reforms outlined in the UK immigration white paper, and further calls on the UK Government to ensure that a new youth mobility scheme is designed, with engagement from young people across the UK nations, to be as broad and inclusive as possible, restoring the greatest freedom of movement for young people as can be agreed with the EU.
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 6 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a migration system that works for Scotland. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press t…
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The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
There are three questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Liz Smith is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Michael Marra will fal…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
I remind members that if the amendment in the name of Liz Smith is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Michael Marra will fall. We come to the vote on amendment S6M-17906.1, in the name of Liz S…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
The next question is, that amendment S6M-17906.2, in the name of Michael Marra, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a migration system that works for Scotland, be ag…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
The final question is, that motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a migration system that works for Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 12 Jun 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2025
The result of the division on motion S6M-17906, in the name of Kate Forbes, is: For 67, Against 42, Abstentions 0. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament recognises the contribution to Scotland’s co…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-17906Selected itemCarried 67/4210 Jun 2025 · Motion For Debate · Forbes, KateThat the Parliament recognises the contribution to Scotland’s communities, public services and economy by those who have chosen to migrate to Scotland and build their lives here; notes that stakeholders from multiple sectors across Scotland have expressed significant concerns with the UK Government’s immigration white paper, and that prop...
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S6M-17906.1Linked amendment/itemDefeated 24/8411 Jun 2025 · Amendment · Smith, LizAs an amendment to motion S6M-17906 in the name of Kate Forbes (A Migration System that Works for Scotland), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “believes that there is an important policy balance to be struck between welcoming those migrants who make significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural life of the U...
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S6M-17906.2Linked amendment/itemDefeated 19/6211 Jun 2025 · Amendment · Marra, MichaelAs an amendment to motion S6M-17906 in the name of Kate Forbes (A Migration System that Works for Scotland), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “supports the move towards a more sustainable immigration system for the whole of the UK; regrets that the care sector has become overly dependent on low wages and exploitative workin...