Immigrant influx: 'Time Holyrood met some of the bills involved'

Published on Tuesday 11 March 2008 08:10

SUCH is Scotland's worldwide reputation for friendliness and hospitality, it is not surprising that the bulk of migrant workers who have set up home, mainly from other European Union countries, have been welcomed with open arms.

But although the vast majority are honest and hard-working, their very presence is putting considerable strain on services required to help them integrate.

Since Poland entered the EU in 2004, there has been a massive influx of migrants into the UK. Edinburgh is one of the most popular settling points, with an estimated 35,000 having set up home in and around the city. They are to be welcomed as the majority are young, eager to work and contribute massively to the city's economy, often doing jobs below their skill levels which a hard core of natives happy to live off the benefits system show little sign of wanting.

But welcoming such high numbers is not without its cost and, to date, the Government seems to be taking no account of this and making no provision for authorities facing the challenges involved. Lothian and Borders Police has already complained at the high costs of hiring translators to deal with migrants.

Earlier this week, the Evening News revealed that Polish migrant children were largely responsible for pushing the language support service budget in schools beyond the 1 million mark for a single year, as English is a first language for only a few. Polish children are not the only ones increasing these costs. In one primary school in Dalry, 30 flags hang in the gym hall – one for each of the nationalities represented at the school.

But welcome as most immigrants are, the question has to be asked if cities like Edinburgh are being asked to do too much on their own to accommodate them?

The people have quickly become an integral part of the city, pay their way and are also making a substantial contribution towards Scotland's economy. Just because they settle in greater numbers in large population centres does not mean they are not accepted as guests of Scotland as a whole.

Is it not time that the Scottish Government, which has stated its willingness to attract skilled workers from abroad to strengthen the country's labour pool, lifted some of the burden from local authorities and met some of the bills involved on behalf of the host country?

The nation's new marketing logo "Welcome to Scotland" should not just apply to those who have come here to spend their money.