FEARS FOR FIFE ECONOMY AS MIGRANT WORKERS FALL SINCE BREXIT

Published date : 25 Mar 2019

NI REGISTRATIONS FOR OVERSEAS WORKERS DROPS BY 803 SINCE 2015

Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife & Glenrothes, has said that the Tories’ “narrow-minded Brexit rhetoric” is to blame for a fall in the number of overseas workers coming to Scotland, and warned that this may cause damage to the economy and public services.

Latest figures from the DWP show an 18% drop in the number of National Insurance registrations by overseas workers coming to Scotland between 2015 and 2018. In 2015 – 2619 registrations were recorded, 2016 – 2330, 2017 – 1984 and in 2018 – 1816 was the total number registered.

The figures reinforce warnings that Fife faces a demographic crisis that could hammer public services – as an ageing population leaves Scotland with fewer working-age taxpayers.

All of Scotland’s population growth over the next 25 years is projected to come from migration.

Analysis by the Scottish Government has found that Westminster proposals to cut migration to the tens of thousands would cost the Scottish economy up to £10 billion per year by 2040.

Commenting, MSP Jenny Gilruth said:

“The Tory government’s hostile approach to migration is failing Fife.

“Their anti-immigrant obsession and narrow-minded Brexit rhetoric is driving people away from Scotland, and putting vital public services here in Fife on the line.

“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

Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, St Andrews Citizen, RESERVED