Scotland Needs Immigration Powers

That the Parliament notes the recent analysis by the Sustainable Growth Commission, which shows that there would be 500,000 more people residing in Scotland by 2040, compared to current population projections, were Scotland’s population growth to match other small northern European nations; understands that Scotland’s projected population growth of 4.4% by 2040 is markedly lower than the projected population growth rates in Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden; further understands that an aging population coupled with slow population growth could lead to a demographic crisis, with vital public services, such as the NHS, becoming increasingly difficult to fund; considers that it is glaringly obvious that the UK Government’s reckless, London-centric immigration policy is not working for Scotland now, and will not work for Scotland in the future, and urges all parties in the Parliament to demand new immigration powers for Scotland for, it considers, the sake of the country’s public services, before it is too late.