Arran’s MP calls for rural visa pilot

Patricia Gibson MP has demanded in the House of Commons that the UK Government urgently introduces a rural visa pilot scheme to deal with worker shortages and bureaucracy facing rural industries.

 

Patricia Gibson is the SNP spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs and her demand came with a warning that UK Ministers must act now or rural industries could face irreparable damage.

 

The call comes amid fresh food supply problems and struggles to meet demand with rural and island industries, including hospitality, agriculture and construction, facing worker shortages.

 

The SNP Government set out a proposal in September 2022 for a bespoke rural visa pilot scheme to facilitate migration to Scotland’s island and rural communities.

 

The proposals were deliberated on with, and supported by, local authorities, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFUS) and other rural stakeholders, before being put to the UK Government.

 

However, ministers rejected this proposal and it did not progress any further.

 

Mrs Gibson said: “I am pleased that industry representatives, local authorities and the SNP Government have worked together to devise a workable rural visa pilot scheme to help rural industries which are currently having to battle the impact of rising bills and a disastrous Brexit, on top of the Tory cost of living crisis.

 

"The challenges facing rural and island Scotland are steadily mounting. It’s therefore imperative for the UK Government to act now or devolve the powers so that Scottish Ministers can. The alternative would be continuing damage to rural and island economies, particularly our hospitality, agricultural and construction sectors.”

 

Speaking at the time of the original proposal for a rural visa pilot, rural affairs secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said: “The proposal sets out exactly how a bespoke immigration solution could be delivered at a local level in Scotland, now. These are interventions that can work in Scotland, just as they have worked in Canada.

 

“We believe that an independent Scotland would be best placed to deliver an immigration system which would meet Scotland’s needs. But employers, businesses, and communities are all telling us that actions are needed now.

 

“That is why we are calling upon the UK Government to make the required reforms to its ‘one size fits all’ immigration system with immediate effect, to avoid ongoing and further damage being done to Scotland.”

 

 

Patricia Gibson MP said that irreparable damage is being done to rural and island industries and that a rural visa scheme could help alleviate some of the issues. No_B11Visa01