Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government’s immigration policies on Scotland’s (a) population and (b) labour shortages.

Our points-based system – with a wide range of eligible occupations spanning many economic sectors - works for the whole of the UK by welcoming people to fill skills gaps, support our public services and boost our economy.

As noted in the Migration Advisory Committee annual report, immigration policy cannot be a complete solution to population movements within the UK or labour shortages. The Scottish Government has policy levers to address these issues more effectively.