division_name: Rights of Eu Nationals
motion: <p class="indent" pid="c821.1/2" pwmotiontext="yes">That this House recognises the contribution that nationals from other countries in the EU have made to the UK; and calls on the Government to ensure that all nationals from other countries in the EU who have made the UK their home retain their current rights, including the rights to live and work in the UK, should the UK exit the EU.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c823.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c825.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;There are 160,000 EU nationals from other states living in Scotland, including some in the Commonwealth Games city of Glasgow. If Scotland was outside Europe, they would lose the right to stay here.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c829.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;should the UK exit the EU&#8221;?</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c830.2/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;noticed an increase in xenophobic behaviour&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c830.7/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;the Scottish Government is pursuing every possible option to protect Scotland&#8217;s position in Europe and, by extension, the interests of the people from across the European Union who live here.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c830.7/5" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;an inclusive, prosperous, socially just, open, welcoming and outward-looking country&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c831.1/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c831.1/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;I think it would be good for the British Government to take the initiative, say that we will protect EU citizens&#8217; rights, and then expect the same for UK citizens in the rest of the EU to be similarly protected.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c831.1/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;One of the duties of politicians is to be humane and when we deal with people&#8217;s lives, I think to show that we are open, we are a welcoming country, that we simply decided to leave a political institution called the European Union, that doesn&#8217;t mean we are ignoring people&#8217;s rights.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c832.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Parliament will be fully and properly engaged in the discussion on how we make a success of Brexit.&#8221;&#8212;[Official Report, <phrase class="date" code="2016-10-12">12 October</phrase> 2016; Vol. 615, c. 326.]</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c837.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;I would like to put on record what I think has been said already&#8212;that countless times the Vote Leave campaign gave exactly this reassurance to everybody from EU countries living and working here, and it is very, very disappointing that that should be called into question. I think it is absolutely right to   issue the strongest possible reassurance to EU nationals in this country, not just for moral or humanitarian reasons, but for very, very sound economic reasons as well. They are welcome, they are necessary, they are a vital part of our society, and I will passionately support this motion tonight.&#8221;&#8212;[Official Report, <phrase class="date" code="2016-07-06">6 July</phrase> 2016; Vol. 612, c. 939.]</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c837.0/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;one of our main cards&#8221;,</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c839.2/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;five out of six migrants who are here either already have indefinite leave to remain or ?will have it by the time we depart the Union.&#8221;&#8212;[Official Report, <phrase class="date" code="2016-10-10">10 October</phrase> 2016; Vol. 615, c. 48.]</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c846.5/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;We always welcome those with skills, the drive and the expertise to make our nation better still. If we are to win in the global marketplace, we must win the global battle for talent&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c846.5/5" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;I believe immigration has brought many benefits to the nation. It has enhanced our economy, our society and our culture. That is why I want to reduce net migration while continuing to ensure we attract the brightest and the best&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c846.5/7" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Let me be absolutely clear: existing workers&#8217; legal rights will continue to be guaranteed in law&#8212;and they will be guaranteed as long as I am Prime Minister&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c853.4/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;An area at risk of depopulation needs to welcome those who want to make it their home.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c853.4/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Highlanders have always warmly welcomed people from other countries who choose to live and work in our area and it will be important at this time to provide reassurance to EU nationals that this welcome continues and that we value their contribution to Highland life.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c853.4/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The UK is one of the leading digital economies in the world. Part of the reason is because the UK is able to attract the world&#8217;s most talented individuals to fill jobs where the UK simply does not have the domestic skills base. Making it harder for tech companies to bring in the best and brightest is not the solution and will be a lose-lose situation for everyone&#8212;growth will slow as companies find it harder to recruit, meaning lower revenue for the Treasury.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c853.4/12" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Maybe I can summarise some of the comments I got from people when I initiated the discussion on the Poles in Inverness Facebook group over the weekend. I did it to find out what people think. I also went to the Polish delicatessen to chat to people there. Without any doubt, the common theme appearing in people&#8217;s comments was uncertainty and confusion about their future. There was also a lack of trust in the assurances from the  Westminster Government. Generally, people would like something more than just words, being aware that words have no value and that they might be used as pawns during the negotiations.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c853.4/14" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Sadness and disappointment and maybe also disbelief is another common sentiment. One of my French friends, who came to Scotland as a student 15 years ago and has stayed here ever since, commented on how sad it was to see how inward looking Britain has become when other countries have so much healthier communities when they are more open.Some people consider returning to their countries, which is maybe what Theresa May has in mind. However, some have nowhere to return to as they have bought their houses here, their children were born in this country and never went to Polish school.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c860.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;should the UK exit the EU.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="c861.1/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;should the UK exit the EU.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="italic" pid="c870.4/4" pwmotiontext="yes">The House divided:</p>
  
  <p pid="c870.4/5" pwmotiontext="yes">Ayes 250, Noes 293.</p>