Ministerial Population Taskforce minutes: March 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Equalities (KS), (Chair)
• Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (AR)
• Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands (MG)
• Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing (TA)
• Kenneth Hogg, Director, Culture and External Affairs (KH)
• Aidan Grisewood, Director Jobs and Wellbeing Economy (AG)
• Andrew Watson, Director for Children and Families (AW)
• Rachel Sunderland, Deputy Director for Population Migration and International Relations (RS)
• Will-Tyler Greig, Deputy Director, More Homes Division (WTG)
• Philip Raines, Deputy Director for Domestic Climate Change (PR)
• Anna Densham, Deputy Director Rural Land Reform and Islands Policy (AD)
• Francesco Bertoldi, National Islands Plan Team Leader (FB)
• Craig Thomson, Head of Scotland’s Migration Service (CT)
• Mariken Schipper, Scotland’s Migration Service Senior Policy Officer (MS)
• Aninda De, Senior Business Analyst Scotland’s Migration Service (ADe)
• Andrew White, Statistician, National Records of Scotland (AWh)
• Erin Hall, Private Secretary to Minister for Equalities (EH)
• Donne Joyce, Deputy Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands (DJ)
• Alexander Wilson, Assistant Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (AWi)
• Gerald Ellison, Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care(GE)
• Mike Andrews, Population Team Leader (MA), Secretariat
• Kay Brenchley, Population Policy Officer (KB), Secretariat
• Priyanka Pant, Population Programme Support Officer (PP), Secretariat

Apologies

• Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Gaelic
• Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
• Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Housing
• Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
• Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
• Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business and Employment
• Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
• Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance
• Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
• Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise

Items and actions

Welcome and introductory remarks

KS welcomed attendees to the meeting. Members noted the importance of consistent ministerial participation in supporting the Taskforce’s cross government objectives, and officials took an action to maximise future attendance and encourage broad ministerial engagement in future. There would always be instances when Ministers are unable to attend, with any changes to be agreed through a PO to PO note.

Addressing Depopulation Action Plan: delivery update and next steps

KS summarised the paper, outlining proposals to continue funding for existing funded local authorities and to expand support to three new local authorities and two regional economic development agencies. KS invited members to discuss and agree a decision on the proposed funding allocations for 2026/27’s Phase 2 delivery of the action plan. MG noted that part of the funding was coming from her portfolio and would align with the commitments in the new National Islands Plan. She expressed strong support for the proposal.

Members expressed broad support for the proposed funding allocations and the planned expansion of the programme, recognising how this work supports wider strategic objectives of Scottish Ministers. For example, the importance of aligning this work with wider cross government priorities such as housing, transport, childcare and skills was highlighted, with recognition that coordinated approaches are essential for addressing population challenges at a community level.

The Group noted the positive impact already emerging from Phase 1 delivery and agreed that even relatively small, targeted investments can deliver beneficial outcomes for local communities. Members also welcomed the emphasis on strengthening existing projects, supporting island and rural priorities, and embedding tests of change within enterprise agencies and local authorities alongside ensuring learning from pilot activity is captured, shared and used to inform wider scaling and long-term sustainability. 

There was strong agreement on the need for clearer, more strategic communication about the programme, particularly in relation to encouraging people to live and work in areas experiencing population decline. Members emphasised the value of promoting Scotland’s assets and developing a more consistent narrative around population retention and attraction. The importance of continuing to build local authorities capacity to ensure long term sustainability of this work was also noted. 

Members agreed to the Phase 2 funding proposals and supported publicising the funding decisions prominently. In terms of immediate next steps, officials would prepare committee correspondence to notify the Scottish Parliament, and work with Communications officials to externally announce this decision.

Scotland’s Migration Service (SMS): next steps

KS introduced the paper summarising the findings of a light touch evaluation of SMS following its 2024 launch. The evaluation highlighted strong early performance, potential value for money, and recommendations to: ensure resources reflect changing UK immigration policy; enhance communications and promotion of the service; and build capacity within the service to provide enhanced support for specific complex cases. She invited members to discuss and agree for the proposed re-procurement of the service beyond March 2027 to commence, to ensure service continuity beyond current supplier contract end dates, and build on early successes.

Members agreed to the proposal and no further comments were raised.

AOB

MG provided a brief update on the new National Islands Plan noting it was developed followed extensive consultation and is more targeted and focused than the previous plan. The plan’s overarching objective is population retention and attraction with delivery supported by cross-portfolio collaboration. Members noted the plan had been laid for scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament, welcomed by the Islands Strategic Group and positively received upon announcement by the First Minister. She also acknowledged the Islands team for their role in developing the plan to coordinate and embed islands policy across portfolios.

Members raised the need to capture and use both quantitative and qualitative data on population attraction and retention, particularly in rural and island communities to inform policy and communications. Officials confirmed multiple data sources are available and proposed work to consolidate insights and support readiness for the incoming administration. Members also suggested exploring ways to improve efficiency and focus of future meetings.

KS thanked members for their attendance, and closed the meeting.