The Scottish Government on 27 July 2026 published its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/202600517193 concerning future funding for asylum-seeker support. The document confirms that asylum policy and accommodation remain reserved to Westminster and that Holyrood holds no information on planned changes to UK-wide grants or local-authority funding for 2026-27 and beyond. While Scotland operates the New Scots refugee-integration strategy and a Refugee Support Service via the Scottish Refugee Council, budget lines for 2027 onward have not yet been set. The publication underscores how devolved administrations depend on Home Office decisions for core asylum-support finance, complicating long-term planning for councils in Glasgow, Aberdeen and other dispersal areas. For employers placing staff in Scotland—particularly in tech and energy hubs—uncertainty over local housing and integration services can affect family-relocation packages and community relations. Global mobility managers should track upcoming UK Government consultations on “Reforming asylum support and enforcing family returns,” referenced in the FOI, as any tightening could increase local housing pressure and public sentiment toward migrants. The release also notes forthcoming Scottish regulations affecting tuition-fee eligibility for Afghans under resettlement schemes, reminding HR teams to check student-dependent entitlements when transferring staff. More detailed spending plans are expected in January 2027’s Scottish Spending Review, but companies should engage now with local authorities to anticipate service-capacity constraints.
Source: Scottish Government
