Migration rise welcomed by Scottish Government

New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which show net migration to the UK at its highest level in a decade have been welcomed by Scotland’s Minister for Europe and International Development Humza Yousaf.

The ONS figures show a 50 per cent rise in net migration to the UK last year to 318,000, three times Prime Minister David Cameron’s target of 100,000.

Yousaf said the figures, which are based on overall population estimates, echoed recent findings published by the National Records of Scotland which estimated the net migration figure for Scotland to be 9,600.

"International migrants make important economic, social and cultural contributions to our communities and I welcome today’s figures. Migrants are an important part of Scotland’s future, both in terms of contributing to sustainable economic growth and mitigating the effects of demographic change,” he said.

Earlier David Cameron had used a speech at the Home Office to say the Conservative Government can be “tougher, fairer and faster” on immigration without former coalition partners the Liberal Democrats holding it back.

Cameron said his government will reform immigration and labour market rules to “reduce the demand for skilled migrant labour and crack down on the exploitation of low skilled workers”. The plans include introducing a levy on working visas and seizing the wages of illegal immigrants.