EU Settlement Scheme — Immigration Powers for the Scottish Government — 7 Jul 2021 at 18:51

The majority of MPs voted against automatically granting Settled Status to European Union nationals residing in the United Kingdom or scraping or extending the deadline for applying to the settlement scheme; against providing physical proof of settled status; and against devolving immigration powers to the Scottish Government.

The motion rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That this House
• regrets the end of Freedom of Movement following the UK’s exit from the European Union;
• notes the enormous contribution EU nationals make to the UK economy and society, including in response to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic;
• regrets that the Government did not grant automatic right to remain to EU nationals despite assurances made during the EU referendum campaign;
• welcomes the fact there have been over six million successful applications to the EU Settlement Scheme; but
• further notes with concern that inevitably, many thousands of EU nationals have not applied;
• regrets that provision in relation to late applications will not prevent injustices and the loss of rights of many thousands of EU citizens;
• calls on the Government to recognise that the ongoing health emergency has also impacted on outreach work and the ability of EU nationals to apply, and to respond to this either by automatically granting Settled Status or by scrapping or extending the 30 June deadline; and
• further calls on the Government to introduce physical proof of Settled and Pre-Settled Status and to work with the Scottish Government on agreeing a transfer of immigration powers to allow the Scottish Government to create a Scottish visa or Scottish migration system.

Debate in Parliament |