Bruce concern over unfair skilled migrant rule change

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 13th Oct 2006

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce has appealed to the Government not to shift the boundaries for existing skilled workers who have come to Scotland and want to apply for permanent residence.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the North-East MP paid tribute to the economic benefits that immigration has made right across Scotland. He asked Scottish Minister David Cairns for assurances that those who have come into the country under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme will be treated fairly after a recent decision that migrants who were originally told they would have a right to permanent residence after four years were now being informed they would have to wait five years.

Mr Bruce commented:

"I'm concerned that those skilled migrants who entered the country and were told they could be eligible for permanent residence after four years and will now have to wait for five years are being effectively misled. The Government's decision to make this new waiting period applicable retrospectively will have limited impact on the Government's figures but will have a far greater impact on the lives of those skilled migrants who will have to put their lives on hold for another year. To be told one thing on entering the country and then have the goalposts moved is frankly unfair.

"I have already made representations to the Home Office and I am calling on the Scotland Office to pursue this matter and to make sure that those who applied for a four year time limit will be allowed to qualify for it. In doing so it will put at rest the minds of those workers at risk, who have made a much appreciated contribution to the Scottish economy."

ENDS