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Study looks at Scottish views on immigration Study looks at Scottish views on immigration
(about 9 hours later)
People in Scotland are less likely to want to reduce immigration than those in England and Wales, a new study says.People in Scotland are less likely to want to reduce immigration than those in England and Wales, a new study says.
The Oxford University Migration Observatory said it was the first major survey to ask people in Scotland about immigration to Scotland.The Oxford University Migration Observatory said it was the first major survey to ask people in Scotland about immigration to Scotland.
Scott Blinder, from the observatory, said Scottish attitudes to migration were different from the rest of Britain but "not massively" so.Scott Blinder, from the observatory, said Scottish attitudes to migration were different from the rest of Britain but "not massively" so.
He said the majority of Scots would still like to see immigration reduced.He said the majority of Scots would still like to see immigration reduced.
The survey, conducted by polling organisation YouGov, said 58% of people in Scotland wanted to see immigration reduced a little or a lot.The survey, conducted by polling organisation YouGov, said 58% of people in Scotland wanted to see immigration reduced a little or a lot.
The figure for England and Wales was 75%.The figure for England and Wales was 75%.
The other main findings of the survey were:The other main findings of the survey were:
The survey spoke to more than 2,000 people in Scotland and compared their answers with a similar number of people from England and Wales.The survey spoke to more than 2,000 people in Scotland and compared their answers with a similar number of people from England and Wales.
One finding was that when asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 whether immigration was good or bad for Britain/Scotland, Scots were slightly more likely to give numbers which favoured immigration.One finding was that when asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 whether immigration was good or bad for Britain/Scotland, Scots were slightly more likely to give numbers which favoured immigration.
The observatory's finding are in line with a recent British Social Attitudes Survey which suggested that 78% of people in England thought the number of immigrants to Britain should be reduced and gave a figure for Scotland of 69%.The observatory's finding are in line with a recent British Social Attitudes Survey which suggested that 78% of people in England thought the number of immigrants to Britain should be reduced and gave a figure for Scotland of 69%.
Dr Blinder says: "Pretty much all the previous work on Scotland has been based on small numbers of respondents and a small number of questions.Dr Blinder says: "Pretty much all the previous work on Scotland has been based on small numbers of respondents and a small number of questions.
"It is the first time anybody has taken such an in-depth a look at Scotland in comparison to England on immigration issues.""It is the first time anybody has taken such an in-depth a look at Scotland in comparison to England on immigration issues."
The survey found that immigration as an issue was less important to Scots than it was south of the border and it was far behind the economy when it came to matters which would be vital to the Scottish independence referendum in September.The survey found that immigration as an issue was less important to Scots than it was south of the border and it was far behind the economy when it came to matters which would be vital to the Scottish independence referendum in September.
Dr Blinder said Scotland's attitude could be down to it having had a smaller number of immigrants.Dr Blinder said Scotland's attitude could be down to it having had a smaller number of immigrants.
He said: "The demographics are different. Scotland has a smaller and more ageing population so it may be that more people in Scotland see the benefits of immigration in supplementing their economy and population growing."He said: "The demographics are different. Scotland has a smaller and more ageing population so it may be that more people in Scotland see the benefits of immigration in supplementing their economy and population growing."
'Political culture''Political culture'
One finding from the survey was that the majority of people thought the Scottish government ought to make the most important decisions about immigration policy in Scotland despite most people not agreeing with its more tolerant approach.One finding from the survey was that the majority of people thought the Scottish government ought to make the most important decisions about immigration policy in Scotland despite most people not agreeing with its more tolerant approach.
The SNP's White Paper, setting out plans for Scotland should it win the independence vote, has promised to encourage immigration in order to rebalance the ageing population of the country.The SNP's White Paper, setting out plans for Scotland should it win the independence vote, has promised to encourage immigration in order to rebalance the ageing population of the country.
The survey found that 45% of people thought an independent Scotland should be less welcoming to immigration, with just 14% thinking it should be more open (28% stay the same, 13% don't know).The survey found that 45% of people thought an independent Scotland should be less welcoming to immigration, with just 14% thinking it should be more open (28% stay the same, 13% don't know).
However, when asked if they thought Scotland would actually be less open to immigration just 22% said it would.However, when asked if they thought Scotland would actually be less open to immigration just 22% said it would.
Dr Blinder said: "We found that a majority would prefer the Scottish government to be the primary decision-maker on immigration.Dr Blinder said: "We found that a majority would prefer the Scottish government to be the primary decision-maker on immigration.
"This is interesting because it is not as though there is a big agreement with what people expect them to do. In fact there is a pretty big gap."This is interesting because it is not as though there is a big agreement with what people expect them to do. In fact there is a pretty big gap.
"It's a funny thing. It's not like they are clamouring for the policies that they expect would happen but they still think the Scottish government is the best level of government to decide these issues.""It's a funny thing. It's not like they are clamouring for the policies that they expect would happen but they still think the Scottish government is the best level of government to decide these issues."
Dr Blinder suggested that the more tolerant political culture in Scotland could have contributed to the country being less opposed to immigration.Dr Blinder suggested that the more tolerant political culture in Scotland could have contributed to the country being less opposed to immigration.
He said: "There has not been a lot of loud political discussion of immigration as a massive problem for Scotland. So I think the state of affairs in terms of political debate is reflected in public attitudes."He said: "There has not been a lot of loud political discussion of immigration as a massive problem for Scotland. So I think the state of affairs in terms of political debate is reflected in public attitudes."
'Skill gaps'
Dr Blinder said his analysis of the survey showed that people who stated they would vote No in the independence referendum were more likely to want to reduce immigration.Dr Blinder said his analysis of the survey showed that people who stated they would vote No in the independence referendum were more likely to want to reduce immigration.
He said: "People who want to see immigration reduced are strongly in the No camp. It is 58% in the No camp versus 27.5% in the Yes (the rest are in the Don't know category)."He said: "People who want to see immigration reduced are strongly in the No camp. It is 58% in the No camp versus 27.5% in the Yes (the rest are in the Don't know category)."
The senior researcher said it was hard to know whether potential changes to immigration policy from independence were aligning the anti-immigration camp with the No campaign.The senior researcher said it was hard to know whether potential changes to immigration policy from independence were aligning the anti-immigration camp with the No campaign.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish government Minister for External Affairs Humza Yousaf said: "What we want is an immigration policy that suits the economic, educational, social and cultural needs of our country.
"That means you cut illegal immigration, but what you do is where there are skill gaps that cannot be filled by local, indigenous Scots, then you look to immigration to help with that and also with our population demographics.
"On top of that we would look to get the best, the cream of the crop, international students to come to study at Scottish universities."