THE IMPACT of the UK’s white paper on immigration will be ‘catastrophic in rural areas’ – according to Scottish cabinet secretary for tourism, culture and external affairs, Fiona Hyslop.

During her ministerial statement reviewing the implications of the Westminster white paper and the impact it will have on Scotland, Ms Hyslop played close attention to the fact that there would be no route for lower skilled roles – which make a vital contribution to society.

The UK proposals intend to maintain a salary threshold expected to be set at £30,000 which will cut off many of the routes of key workers who come to the UK to work in areas such as tourism, farming and food and drink.

Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, stressed his concerns for the fruit industry: “The strawberries left rotting in the fields of Fife due to the wider economic impacts that will come from this immigration paper will be symbolic of the problems which will come from the UK immigration policy.”

Ms Hyslop responded: “There is a limited agricultural workers pilot taking place right now which will see 2500 workers for the whole of the UK. This would not even fill vacancies in whole of Angus. This is something we have to make sure the UK Government understands.”

The wider agricultural industry will also share in the struggles caused by the immigration proposals. Emma Harper MSP of the South of Scotland added that 48% of Scotland’s dairy farms operate in the south west of Scotland and are hugely reliant on EU workers.

Ms Hyslop concluded by stating: “The White Paper has very little to do with skills and little to do with social value – instead it envisages a narrow selective system based on wealth and the ability to pay and focused on cutting numbers at the expense of all else.”