SNP MP condemns Home Office

‘Total indifference’ to letting non-European migrants solve crew shortage

A Scottish MP has accused the Home Office of showing “total indifference” to the needs of the west coast fishing fleet.

Angus MacNeil, SNP member for the Western Isles, said yesterday theUK Government department had bluntly refused to help address an ongoing crew shortage crisis which had already led to vessels being tied up.

It follows a meeting in December between Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill and a delegation including Mr MacNeil, Argyll and Bute SNP MP Brendan O’Hara, Northern Irish MP Margaret Ritchie, Western Isles fishingindustry leaders and representatives from the Philippine Embassy in London.

Mr Goodwill was urged to consider reintroducing a scheme allowing non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants to work in the industry.

Yesterday, Mr MacNeil said the minister had since written to say he would take no action as it would only discourage the industry from trying to secure crew from “the resident workforce”.

Mr Goodwill also told him it was not currently government policy to “introduce