Overview

This bill proposes to amend the Scotland Act 1998, granting the Scottish Parliament the power to make laws on immigration. Currently, immigration is reserved to the UK Parliament. This bill aims to devolve this power to Scotland.

Description

The core change introduced by the Devolution (Immigration) (Scotland) Bill is the removal of a specific reservation from the Scotland Act 1998. This reservation prevents the Scottish Parliament from legislating on immigration, including asylum and the status of non-British citizens in the UK. The bill aims to delete this clause, thereby granting the Scottish Parliament competence over these matters. The bill will extend to all parts of the UK and come into force immediately upon being passed.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly allocate or change government spending. The potential financial implications would depend on how the Scottish Parliament chooses to exercise its new powers. Increased devolved responsibilities might lead to associated increases in the Scottish budget, but this is not detailed in the bill itself. No specific figures are included.

Groups Affected

The main groups affected are:

• The Scottish Parliament: Gains significant new legislative power over immigration.
• The UK Parliament: Loses legislative competence over immigration in Scotland.
• Scottish Government: Will be responsible for implementing any new immigration legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.
• Immigrants to Scotland: Could experience changes to immigration processes and regulations depending on legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.
• Businesses in Scotland: May see changes to employment laws and regulations relating to hiring non-UK citizens.

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