Warning that new inmigration policy will be harmful to Moray's economy

MORAY'S SNP MSP and local authority chiefs have warned that the UK Government’s new immigration policy will harm the area's economy.

Richard Lochhead MSP, Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter and convener Shona Morrison have criticised the points-based system that will refuse entry to Great Britain for anyone earning less than £25,600, or who does not come under certain exemptions.

Mr Lochhead said: "Moray will increasingly rely on people of working age to choose to work and live here. Many of the jobs we’ll need to fill will be in the NHS, care sector, food and drink sector, our local factories or construction sites.

"Virtually every employer I have spoken to would tell you that they need an immigration policy that makes it easy to attract the right skills mix for their businesses. Often the starting salary for jobs will be below £25,600 so to categorise anyone on that pay scale as low skilled for the purposes of cutting down on immigration, when they are providing essential skills to support our society and economy, is outrageous.

"Around 60 per cent of employees in Moray earn less than the salary threshold and are therefore deemed low skilled by the Tories. The average salary is £24,865 compared with £45,394 in London, where this mad policy was decided."

Managing director of local business Maclean's Highland Bakery, Lewis Maclean, employs 105 people, one of many business and services around the town who utilise immigrant labour.

He said: "We employ between seven or eight members of staff who are not UK-born. Most of the roles within our business are seen as unskilled and beneath the threshold. Anything that reduces this pool is going to impact on our recruitment."

Mr Lochhead claimed the new policy undermines Moray’s attempt to address its demographic challenge.

He said: "Around 29 per cent of our population will be 65 years old or over by 2041. This compares with only 25 per cent for Scotland as a whole so maintaining a working age population is a much bigger challenge for Moray. So the Conservative Party will leave us in a situation where we’ll have more people needing looked after and even less working age people to fulfil that vital role.

"It’s infuriating to see Moray’s MP Douglas Ross fronting the UK Government’s defence of this policy when his own constituency could be one of the hardest hit."

Parliamentary under secretary of state at the Scotland Office, Douglas Ross, replied: "Richard Lochhead is once again using language to stoke up concern, rather than taking the time to understand the proposals. The reason we have redefined what is a ‘skilled’ job is because under the current system only degree level jobs count as skilled. And the minimum salary threshold will be reduced under our proposals from £30,000 to £25,600.

"That said, I know many sectors have voiced concerns about aspects of the new immigration plans and I am already engaging with them locally here in Moray and across Scotland. The approach from these businesses has been constructive and I want to listen to the issues they are highlighting and work with them."

Cllr Shona Morrison, who sits on the Moray Health and Social Care Board, pointed out that there is a significant percentage of social care workers who come from Eastern Europe.

She said: "The removal of freedom of movement is likely to lead to difficulties recruiting to fill care jobs. The result of that will be vulnerable adults not receiving the care they need. We’re already starting to see an impact with many Europeans not feeling welcome in the UK and deciding to move to other parts of Europe. A lack of care workers will only shift care needs into hospitals, increase the pressure on NHS staff and damage long-term health outcomes."

Cllr Graham Leadbitter, who is also the Council’s lead on Economic Development issues, added: "Thousands are employed in food production, with a very high percentage of those workers coming from outside the UK. The Tories’ immigration plans would make it nearly impossible to bring in workers to these jobs from outside the UK and there is simply not enough people looking for these jobs from within the UK."