Immigration and public law: Rwanda, reserved powers and (scarce) resources
Location:
Usha Kasera,
Old College
Date/time
Thu 29 February 2024
17:15-19:00
The ECCL is delighted to host a Scottish Public Law Group evening seminar on “Immigration and public law: Rwanda, reserved powers and (scarce) resources”
This event will take place both in person at Edinburgh Law School (Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College) and online on Thursday 29th February from 5.15pm.
From the UK Supreme Court to Scotland's local authorities, immigration is a dominant - if underexamined - feature of the public law landscape. It is the focus of political debate as the UK (likely) enters a general election year, a site of constitutional debate about the independence of - and the further devolution of powers to - Scotland, a significant feature of the public law case load, and a vexed question for local government as it straddles the exercise of statutory duties and the balance of scarce resources.
In this seminar, our panel of expert speakers will explore some of these issues from a variety of perspectives: where are we with the Rwanda policy, and what is its wider constitutional significance; what will be the implications of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 for the devolved authorities; and, in light of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Inam v London Borough of Croydon, how are local authorities to balance the exercise of their statutory duties in this area against the backdrop of ever-decreasing resources.
Joining the panel of speakers for this event are Tom Hickman KC, on the constitutional implications of the UK government's Rwanda policy and the recent UK Supreme Court decision; Andy Sirel (JustRight Scotland) on the devolution implications and practical impacts of asylum and immigration policy; and, Katey Tabner (COSLA) who, from a policy and budgetary perspective, will address the challenges faced by local authorities in the exercise of their statutory duties in this area. The event will be chaired by Debora Kayembe, a former refugee and now the Rector of Edinburgh University and leading human rights lawyer and campaigner.
Doors open at 5.15pm for in-person delegates. The talks will start at 5.30pm and will conclude at 7pm, followed by a drinks reception.