Motion
Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing
S6M-19252 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Findlay, Russell
Lodged on
06 Oct 2025Heard / answered on
08 Oct 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 08 Oct 2025
That the Parliament believes that illegal immigration must be stopped because of the damaging impact on public finances and local communities; recognises that the Scottish Government’s decision to suspend local connection rules in relation to homelessness provision back in 2022 has contributed towards attracting asylum seekers to Scotland at an unsustainable level, and calls on the Scottish Government to immediately reverse this decision.
Lodged by
Findlay, Russell
alone — no additional MSPs have signed on.
Final vote on motion (as amended)
08 Oct 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
61Against
51Abstain
0Not voted
17Amendments incorporated
- S6M-19252.5 McAllan, Màiri — carried 61/51: As an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “notes that the suspension of local connection referrals in 2022 did not change the rights of newly recognised refugees to choose where they settle in Scotland, nor did it prevent Scottish local authorities from referring households presenting as homeless to an English or Welsh local authority with which they have a local connection; reaffirms that Scotland is a welcoming nation to people fleeing persecution, seeking safety and who have been granted refugee status, ensuring that they can rebuild their lives in the country through the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy; highlights action in Scotland to tackle homelessness and destitution, including new prevention measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, increased investment in affordable homes and the £4 million investment in homelessness prevention pilots, alongside the extension of rapid rehousing transition plan funding of £8 million into 2026-27, and calls again on the UK Government to urgently uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol.”
Computer-generated best guess
Possible final motion text after carried amendments
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 notes that the suspension of local connection referrals in 2022 did not change the rights of newly recognised refugees to choose where they settle in Scotland, nor did it prevent Scottish local authorities from referring households presenting as homeless to an English or Welsh local authority with which they have a local connection; reaffirms that Scotland is a welcoming nation to people fleeing persecution, seeking safety and who have been granted refugee status, ensuring that they can rebuild their lives in the country through the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy; highlights action in Scotland to tackle homelessness and destitution, including new prevention measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, increased investment in affordable homes and the £4 million investment in homelessness prevention pilots, alongside the extension of rapid rehousing transition plan funding of £8 million into 2026-27, and calls again on the UK Government to urgently uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol.
Applied by the parser
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S6M-19252.5: leave out from "believes" to end and insert As an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “notes that the suspension of local connection referrals in 2022 did not change the rights of newly recognised refugees to choose where they settle in Scotland, nor did it prevent Scottish local authorities from referring households presenting as homeless to an English or Welsh local authority with which they have a local connection; reaffirms that Scotland is a welcoming nation to people fleeing persecution, seeking safety and who have been granted refugee status, ensuring that they can rebuild their lives in the country through the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy; highlights action in Scotland to tackle homelessness and destitution, including new prevention measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, increased investment in affordable homes and the £4 million investment in homelessness prevention pilots, alongside the extension of rapid rehousing transition plan funding of £8 million into 2026-27, and calls again on the UK Government to urgently uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol.”
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 4 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Chamber
· 08 Oct 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2025
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19252, in the name of Russell Findlay, on stopping illegal immigration and recognising its impact on housing. I invite members who wish to speak in…
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The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 08 Oct 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2025
There are nine questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that if the amendment in the name of Màiri McAllan is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Mark Griffin will fa…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 08 Oct 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2025
The result of the division on motion S6M-19252, in the name of Russell Findlay, as amended, is: For 61, Against 51, Abstentions 0. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament notes that the …
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 08 Oct 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2025
The next question is that amendment S6M-19252.4—Interruption. My apologies—since amendment S6M-19252.5 was agreed to, amendment S6M-19252.4 has fallen. The next question is, that motion S6M-19252,…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-19252Selected itemCarried 61/5106 Oct 2025 · Motion For Debate · Findlay, RussellThat the Parliament believes that illegal immigration must be stopped because of the damaging impact on public finances and local communities; recognises that the Scottish Government’s decision to suspend local connection rules in relation to homelessness provision back in 2022 has contributed towards attracting asylum seekers to Scotland at an unsu...
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S6M-19252.1Linked amendment/item06 Oct 2025 · Amendment · Simpson, GrahamAs an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), insert at end "; believes that the Scottish Government’s suspension of local connection rules has placed unsustainable pressure on housing and public services in certain communities; notes that Scotland faces a hou...
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S6M-19252.2Linked amendment/item07 Oct 2025 · Amendment · Chapman, MaggieAs an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “recognises the UK’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention to offer protection and sanctuary to those fleeing persecution and conflict; further ...
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S6M-19252.3Linked amendment/item07 Oct 2025 · Amendment · Rennie, WillieAs an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “illegal” to end and insert “the UK asylum system is in crisis and that, under the last UK Conservative administration, the system was ruined, with backlogs becoming out of control and th...
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S6M-19252.4Linked amendment/item07 Oct 2025 · Amendment · Griffin, MarkAs an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from "because" to end and insert “; regrets that the previous UK Conservative administration left the immigration system in a state of collapse; recognises the progress made by the UK Labour administ...
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S6M-19252.5Linked amendment/itemCarried 61/5107 Oct 2025 · Amendment · McAllan, MàiriAs an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “notes that the suspension of local connection referrals in 2022 did not change the rights of newly recognised refugees to choose where they settle in Scotlan...