CALL TO REINSTATE FRESH TALENT

For immediate use: Tuesday 21st December



Attn: NEWSDESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


Christina McKelvie MSP has called for the reinstatement of the Fresh Talent Initiative as the UK Government moves to abolish post-study visas.


The previous Fresh Talent Working in Scotland scheme allowed international graduates of Scottish universities to apply to remain in Scotland and contribute to our economy for two years after graduation. The scheme was abolished by Gordon Brown’s government in 2008 and merged with the “Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa” scheme covering the whole of the UK.


SNP Central Scotland MSP Ms McKelvie has written to External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop asking her to explore with the UK Government re-instating Fresh Talent alongside devolving controls over migration to Scotland.


Commenting, Ms McKelvie said:


“The Fresh Talent Initiative was welcomed by the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce when it was launched in 2004, and should be reinstated now.


“People who study at our universities should be able to apply to work in Scotland for a couple of years after graduation to prove themselves as highly skilled workers, giving benefits back to Scotland. We spend a lot of money on our universities and they contribute massively to our country but we should be looking for every opportunity to get something back for Scotland out of that investment.


“We heard from business leaders, the External Affairs Minister, COSLA and the STUC earlier that the cap on immigration being introduced by the Tory Government in London would be “likely to impede Scotland’s economic recovery and distort the labour market” and reinstating Fresh Talent would help address that.

“Fresh Talent was a Scottish solution to a Scottish problem; it was abolished by Gordon Brown’s Government and now the Tory Government is abolishing its replacement. Without the return of Fresh Talent Scotland will be left without the means to retain talented graduates from outside Europe even though they got their degree from a Scottish university. Our universities train thousands of talented people and we would be sending them away instead of putting their talents to work boosting our economy and creating more jobs.


“Reinstating the Fresh Talent Initiative for Scotland is a sensible and practical solution and that’s what the Home Office should be doing. Without full powers for the Scottish Parliament we unfortunately have to rely on the UK Government to do this but it’s a move that Scotland needs.”






Notes:


Fresh Talent was launched 25th Feb 2004 http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialreports/meetingsparliament/or-04/sor0225-02.htm#Col5940






Fresh Talent abolished by Labour in 2008 http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/freshtalent/freshtalentscotland/






Home Office consulting on removing all provision http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/consultations/students/student-consultation.pdf?view=Binary