NI REGISTRATIONS FOR OVERSEAS WORKERS DROPS BY A FIFTH
Local MP Brendan O’Hara has said the Tories’ “narrow-minded Brexit rhetoric” is to blame for a fall in the number of overseas workers coming to Scotland – and warned of the damage to the economy and public services.
Latest figures from the DWP show a drop of over 22% in Argyll and Bute alone, in the number of National Insurance registrations by overseas workers coming to Scotland between 2015 and 2018.
The MP has previously called on the UK Prime Minister to discuss the potential for a devolved immigration scheme pilot in Argyll and Bute, a request that was dismissed by Theresa May back in September 2018[i].
The alarming figures reinforce warnings that Scotland faces a demographic crisis that could jeopardise our ability to fund public services – with an ageing population leaving the country with fewer working-age taxpayers.
Brendan O’Hara led a debate at Westminster on Tuesday 19th March calling for an independent evaluation of the impact of Brexit on the Health and Social care, a sector which is potential facing a staffing crisis if immigration issues are not resolved quickly.
All of Scotland’s population growth over the next 25 years is projected to come from migration.
With Scottish unemployment at historically low levels, falling migration poses a risk to filling crucial vacancies in our public services and private sector.
Analysis by the Scottish Government found that the Tories’ proposals to cut migration to the tens of thousands would cost the Scottish economy up to £10 billion per year by 2040.
Commenting, SNP MP Brendan O’Hara said:
“The UK government’s hostile approach to migration is failing Argyll and Bute and it’s failing Scotland.
“The Tories’ anti-immigrant obsession and narrow-minded Brexit rhetoric is driving people away from this area, putting our economy and vital public services on the line.
“Freedom of movement is vital to Argyll and Bute. Our working age population is predicted to drop by a staggering 36.3% by 2026, an increase of 30% of those aged 75 or over and an overall drop in population of 3.4%[ii].
“The simple fact is that without inward migration our working-age population will decline, making it harder to fund vital public services like hospitals and schools in the future.
“It is now imperative for Scotland to have the powers to set an immigration policy which suits our specific needs and recognises the huge benefits migrant workers being to our economy and society.”
ENDS
NINO Registrations To Adult Overseas Nationals Entering The UK (XI) | ||||
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Local Authority | 2015 | 2018 | Change | % Change |
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Aberdeen City | 5205 | 2942 | 2263 | 43.47742555 |
Aberdeenshire | 1726 | 1000 | 726 | 42.06257242 |
Angus | 1313 | 1090 | 223 | 16.98400609 |
Argyll and Bute | 570 | 443 | 127 | 22.28070175 |
City of Edinburgh | 11927 | 10003 | 1924 | 16.13146642 |
Clackmannanshire | 113 | 78 | 35 | 30.97345133 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 336 | 260 | 76 | 22.61904762 |
Dundee City | 1338 | 1131 | 207 | 15.47085202 |
East Ayrshire | 92 | 89 | 3 | 3.260869565 |
East Dunbartonshire | 108 | 96 | 12 | 11.11111111 |
East Lothian | 514 | 499 | 15 | 2.918287938 |
East Renfrewshire | 141 | 119 | 22 | 15.60283688 |
Falkirk | 544 | 323 | 221 | 40.625 |
Fife | 2619 | 1816 | 803 | 30.66055746 |
Glasgow City | 9307 | 9901 | -594 | -6.382292898 |
Highland | 1680 | 1425 | 255 | 15.17857143 |
Inverclyde | 104 | 66 | 38 | 36.53846154 |
Midlothian | 240 | 265 | -25 | -10.41666667 |
Moray | 313 | 227 | 86 | 27.47603834 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 69 | 60 | 9 | 13.04347826 |
North Ayrshire | 184 | 118 | 66 | 35.86956522 |
North Lanarkshire | 1034 | 688 | 346 | 33.4622824 |
Orkney Islands | 60 | 46 | 14 | 23.33333333 |
Perth and Kinross | 2725 | 2031 | 694 | 25.46788991 |
Renfrewshire | 746 | 662 | 84 | 11.26005362 |
Scottish Borders | 450 | 325 | 125 | 27.77777778 |
Shetland Islands | 301 | 93 | 208 | 69.10299003 |
South Ayrshire | 280 | 194 | 86 | 30.71428571 |
South Lanarkshire | 709 | 592 | 117 | 16.50211566 |
Stirling | 751 | 671 | 80 | 10.65246338 |
West Dunbartonshire | 193 | 106 | 87 | 45.07772021 |
West Lothian | 876 | 664 | 212 | 24.20091324 |
Scotland | 46567 | 38013 | 8554 | 18.36923143 |
Holyrood’s Finance & Constitution Committee warns of strong evidence of a demographic risk to the size of Scottish budget
https://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/110146.aspx
[i] Prime Ministers Questions, House of Commons 5th September 2018, http://bit.ly/2HEMvUG
[ii] NRS statistics for 2016, as reported by Argyll and Bute Council, https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/info/nrs-2010-based-population-projections-argyll-and-bute