In September 2014 Scotland will hold an historic referendum on its constitutional future. Migration is an important aspect of the debates surrounding this ballot: the current UK government has emphasised its desire to restrict immigration to Britain, whilst the Scottish Government has viewed net immigration as a valuable contributor to the economic and demographic growth of Scotland. The Breakfast Briefing will explore these contrasting positions and draws on new research (using secondary datasets, and interviews with employers, students and local authorities) undertaken as part of the ESRC ‘s ‘Future of the UK and Scotland’ programme. The speakers will consider the challenges and opportunities that Scotland faces in devising an immigration policy attuned to its particular needs, whatever the outcome of the referendum.

Speaker: Allan Findlay, and David McCollum, University of St. Andrews, and Jakub Bijak, University of Southampton