Summary

  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Jim Clark Rally and winter blood stocks are all raised during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during First Minister's Questions

  • Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle leads this afternoon's members' debate on Doon Valley Boxing Club

  • The Scottish government lead a debate on Scotland's disability delivery plan

  • The Finance and Constitution Committee lead a debate on the written agreement between the Scottish Parliament and Scottish government

  1. 'Migrants are more than economic units'published at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of StrathclydeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde says vacancies need to be filled, it is not a need for EU migrants, it is a need for someone to do the work.

    Prof. Wright says the question is how do you fill a vacancy and not how do we get EU migrants, "if that Brexit thing goes through".

    Professor Rebecca Kay from the University of Glasgow says she agrees the country of origin is not important, but migrants are more than economic units.

  2. The Scottish government is working on getting better coordinated datapublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of EdinburghImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of Edinburgh

    Prof. Wright says the question is how will Scotland attract the people it needs.

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of Edinburgh says there is a fixation with labour market shortages.

    Prof. Boswell says the Scottish government must get better data of where the shortages are.

    Angela Hallam says the Scottish government is working on getting better coordinated data.

  3. COSLA Migration says the points based system is focused on excluding migrantspublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA MigrationImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA Migration

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA Migration says the points based system is focused on excluding migrants. 

    Ms Cook says there is a lack of flexibility to feed Scotland's needs and says social care has come out of tier 2, reflecting a lack of flexibility and a desire to reduce migration.

  4. Brexit will stop highly qualified EU citzens coming to Scotland and taking low skill jobspublished at 09:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of StrathclydeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde says Brexit will stop highly qualified EU citzens coming to Scotland and taking low skill jobs.

    He says the question is where will the people to take these jobs will come from.

  5. Green MSP highlights this committee...published at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

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  6. Migrants 'either stuck in the poverty trap or they return home'published at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde
    Image caption,

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde says there is a big skill mismatch between work migrants are doing and their qualifications.

    Professor Wright says, of course, they have aspirations but those aspirations are not realised.

    He says "they are either stuck in the poverty trap or they return home". 

  7. Background: Scotland's FM Nicola Sturgeon calls for EU citizens guaranteepublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Ms Sturgeon hosted the question and answer session with EU nationals after a Scottish cabinet meeting in EdinburghImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Ms Sturgeon hosted the question and answer session with EU nationals after a Scottish cabinet meeting in Edinburgh

    Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK government to guarantee EU nationals living in the UK can remain after Brexit.

    Scotland's first minister made her plea as she hosted a question and answer session with hundreds of EU nationals.

    Many were concerned about whether they would have the right to live and work in Scotland when the UK leaves the EU.

    Ms Sturgeon said it was "disgraceful" that the UK had not guaranteed the right of EU nationals to remain.

  8. SNP MP launches bill to combat violence against womenpublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

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  9. Migrants are ambitious which is 'great for the economy'published at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Colm Wilson from Fife Migrants ForumImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Colm Wilson from Fife Migrants Forum

    Colm Wilson from Fife Migrants Forum says there is no stereotypical migrant that comes into Scotland.

    Mr Wilson says many of the migrants here are capable of doing more than they are doing in their job and they are ambitious, which is great for the economy. 

    Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald asks if there is  evidence of gangmasters underpaying staff.

    Mr Wilson says there is certainly evidence of exploitative gangmasters.

  10. Migrants 'come here to make a life' - Professor Rebecca Kaypublished at 09:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Scottish Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says many people arrive to do lower skilled jobs despite their qualifications.

    Mr Macdonald says these people often find their way to higher skilled jobs when they are here.

    Scottish Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald
    Image caption,

    Scottish Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald

    Professor Rebecca Kay from the University of Glasgow says that can vary depending on region.

    Professor Kay says people seem to succeed in moving into higher skilled jobs in regions like Aberdeen but not in rural areas. 

    She says no migrant comes here with the intention of working in a low skilled job, they come here to make a life.

  11. Flags at half mast out of respect for Alex Johnstone's familypublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

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  12. Scotland will be missing 25% of migrants 'if the door is shut'published at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Robert WrightImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Robert Wright

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde says Scotland will be missing 25% of migrants "if the door is shut".

    Prof. Wright says if Brexit goes through there will not be a lot of Poles with a high level of education doing low skilled jobs in Scotland.

    He says Scotland should try to match people and their skills to jobs, like Canada.

  13. Scotland an ageing populationpublished at 09:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Kirsty MacLachlan from the National Records of Scotland
    Image caption,

    Kirsty MacLachlan from the National Records of Scotland

    Scottish Conservative MSP Rachel Hamilton asks about the projected needs for EU migration.

    Kirsty MacLachlan from the National Records of Scotland says it is projected that total population for Scotland is predicted to grow by 7% in Scotland but children are only projected to rise by 1%. 

    Ms MacLachlan says it is an ageing population.

  14. Donald Tusk says no expat deal before Article 50published at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Westminster and EU flagImage source, PA

    The status of UK and EU expats after Brexit can be resolved only once formal negotiations have started, the European Council president has said.

    Donald Tusk hit back at criticism from UK politicians over the plight of EU nationals in the UK and Britons living overseas.

    In a letter the 81 MPs and peers accused the EU Commission of "standing in the way" of a "reciprocal" deal.

    But Mr Tusk said their criticism had "nothing to do with reality".

    He said Brexit - not the stance taken by EU negotiators - had created "anxiety and uncertainty", saying the best way to "dispel the fears and doubts of all the citizens concerned" was to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins a two-year negotiation process.

  15. Witness says we must have in mind how much migrants add to the Scottish economypublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Angela Hallam from Scottish governmentImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Angela Hallam from Scottish government

    Angela Hallam from Scottish government says recent EEA migrants are much more likely to be in employment or students.

    Ms Hallam says we must have in mind how much migrants add to the Scottish economy.

  16. Important to recognise what makes people want to come here and stay herepublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Rebecca Kay from the University of Glasgow
    Image caption,

    Professor Rebecca Kay from the University of Glasgow

    Professor Rebecca Kay from the University of Glasgow says it is important to recognise what makes people want to come here and stay here.

    Professor Kay says more can be done by local authorities to appreciate and discuss the fears around Brexit. 

  17. 'The scenario of no future EU immigration is highly implausible'published at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of EdinburghImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of Edinburgh

    Professor Christina Boswell from the University of Edinburgh says the scenario of no future EU immigration is highly implausible.

    The academic says the UK government will have to find a way of preserving current EU flows.

    She says the question is how the Scottish government can influence UK immigration policy.

  18. No future EU migration would affect the working age population the most - National Records of Scotlandpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Kirsty MacLachlan, from the National Records of Scotland
    Image caption,

    Kirsty MacLachlan, from the National Records of Scotland

    Kirsty MacLachlan, from the National Records of Scotland, says if there was no future EU migration it would affect the working age population the most. 

  19. Academic says fertility is key to population growthpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of StrathclydeImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde

    Professor Robert Wright from the University of Strathclyde says fertility is key to population growth.

    The academic says without a growing labour force we will not see economic growth.

    Prof. Wright says the implications for Brexit is that the free movement of people from the EEA countries will stop.

    He says Scotland needs these people to grow the labour force.

  20. Cosla says population growth is hugely importantpublished at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2016

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA Migration
    Image caption,

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA Migration

    Lorraine Cook from COSLA Migration says population growth is very different across different areas of Scotland.

    Ms Cook says population growth is hugely important to local authorities and it is recognised that migration is important.