We Need Immigrants, Says Scotland To British Government

08 Dec 2010

A joint letter has been drafted to UK Immigration Minister Damian Green by Business leaders and industry organisations in Scotland stating that Scotland's economy would suffer under the new immigration cap announced by the Government.

The letter stated, "We are deeply concerned that the annual limit will have a negative effect across various sectors including those which are key to the Scottish economy." And, "If Scotland cannot continue to attract business investment due to a lack of available skills then our economy will suffer."

And, Scotland wants to have its own immigration limit more suited to the needs of its labour market. Business leaders consider that the Scottish financial services sectors will be hit the hardest by the immigration cap.

The letter also stated that the jobs require the skills and experience of immigrants which are not among the local population.

The cap, set to go into effect in April of 2011, will slash highly skilled migration from over 13,000 visas per year to 1,000.

Business interests want Scotland to have a more flexible annual limit on Tier 2 skilled and Tier 1 highly skilled visas.

"We need a flexible approach to be taken to the implementation of the annual limit in Scotland, otherwise there will potential negative effects for our businesses, our labour market and our economy."