Whether it has information on the impact of the Fresh Talent initiative on (a) the performance of the Scottish economy, (b) the number of f…

Answered Asked by Joe FitzPatrick SNP Lodged 18 Sep 2008

The question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has information on the impact of the Fresh Talent initiative on (a) the performance of the Scottish economy, (b) the number of foreign students at Scottish universities and (c) levels of immigration to Scotland.

The answer

Answered by Linda Fabiani on 2 Oct 2008 · 14 days after it was lodged, on time

It is not possible to identify the particular impact of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme on the performance of the Scottish economy or the number of foreign students at Scottish universities.
Immigration is currently reserved to the UK Government and the Scottish Government does not have information on the impact of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme on levels of immigration to Scotland. However we do know there have been around 8,400 international graduates applied to remain in Scotland under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme to work after completing their studies.
We have recently published a review of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme which is available on the Scottish Government website and the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46484). http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/15155422/0.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-16430 by reference.