200,000 migrants to stay...enough for city the size of Aberdeen

NEARLY 200,000 European migrants have been given approval to stay in Scotland after Brexit.

More than a third are from Poland, with the other main nationalities being Romanians, Italians, Spanish and Bulgarians.

The number given the right to stay is roughly equivalent to the population of Aberdeen, which is around 208,000.

Edinburgh is Scotland’s top hotspot for European residents, with 48,930 applying to stay – the fourth highest of any area outside London.

An estimated three- quarters of European nationals currently living in Scotland have been given approval to stay beyond the June 30 deadline.

Figures published yesterday indicate the huge numbers who have had applications under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) approved. The initiative allows

European nationals to remain in the UK after the free movement of people ends.

The statistics show 117,050 living in Scotland have been granted settled status, while 75,460 who have lived here a shorter time received pre-settled status – a total of 192,510.

Home Office Minister Kevin Foster said: ‘We are really pleased to have seen so many people make their application to the EUSS with seven months still to go before the deadline, and to have seen so many people get settled or pre- settled status which allows them to carry on living and working in the UK beyond July 1.

‘It is interesting to note from the breakdown that, for example, 70,000 applications are people of Polish nationality.

‘But there is still more work to be done before June 30 to ensure we reach out to everyone who is entitled to apply because we want them to get the status they deserve.’

Across the UK, 4,062,000 people have applied to remain so far – 91 per cent of them in England, 5 per cent in Scotland, 2 per cent in Wales and 2 per cent in Northern Ireland.

Out of the 204,660 applications from people in Scotland, 196,390 have been concluded.

Mr Foster told the Mail that the UK Government will ensure its immigration system works for Scotland – and firmly rejected the SNP Government’s calls for the power to introduce a separate system.

He said: ‘The Scottish Government’s goal is not to create an effective migration system that ensures Scotland i s a high- wage, highproductivity, skilled economy.

‘Their goal is to rebuild Hadrian’s Wall and try to get England to pay for it from an economic migration point of view. That is not something we are going to be signing up to.

Anyone in Scotland would know that if in the middle of this crisis all you can talk about is a referendum on independence next year, then it tells you that their priority is separatism, not governing.’

He said ‘shortage occupation lists’ will be introduced in each of the devolved nations to make sure that immigration meets needs.

Mr Foster added that the UK Government will encourage people with UK visas to move to Scotland if there are skills shortages.

SNP Migration Minister Ben Macpherson said: ‘Our message to EU citizens has always been clear – this is your home, you are very welcome here and we really want you to stay. Through our Stay in Scotland campaign we are encouraging and supporting EU citizens in Scotland to apply to the EUSS.

‘With more deaths than births each year, all of the projected growth in Scotland’s population will come from inward migration.

‘There is, therefore, a compelling and pressing need for a tailored approach to migration policy for Scotland, which is different from that of the current UK Government’s hostile environment policies.

‘We need an immigration system that supports economic growth and helps respond to the implications of demographic change.’

‘Reach out to everyone’