NICOLA Sturgeon’s key demand for immigration to be devolved as part of the Brexit process has been firmly rejected by the UK Government with ministers suggesting a separate migrant policy for Scotland would be “inappropriate”.

Just days before the first crunch PM-FM Brexit meeting in London, David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, told MPs on the Commons Scottish affairs committee that he fully accepted Scotland needed in-migration to prosper and recognised the great contribution generations of migrants had made to the socio-economic wellbeing of the nation.

He pointed to how the Scottish Government had several policy levers to attract migrants to Scotland and shape the working age population in line with local needs such as new tax-raising powers, education and workforce training.

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The SNP’s Pete Wishart, the committee chairman, asked if the UK Government accepted Scotland had demographic challenges and immigration requirements that were different to the rest of the UK.

But Mr Mundell said: “If you are asking me if Scotland needs a different immigration system, then obviously the answer to that question is No.”

Robert Goodwill, the immigration minister, pointed out how there was projected slower population growth in Scotland than the rest of the UK but then stressed that he agreed with Mr Mundell, saying: “Having a separate immigration policy for Scotland is not something we feel would be appropriate.”

Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee West, noted how, during the EU referendum campaign, leading Leave campaigner Michael Gove, who was justice secretary at the time, offered a Brexit “sweetener” by suggesting Scotland would have new immigration powers.

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Mr Mundell, noting how the campaigns were separate from government, declared: “Michael Gove did not make that statement on behalf of either the previous or current government.”

Later, Mr Law accused the UK Government of “confusion and muddle,” stressing how Mr Gove had “promised” how one of the benefits of Brexit for Scotland would be that it would have its own immigration policy.

“It was deeply disappointing that Scotland voted to remain and yet there was no sign from the Scottish secretary or the immigration minister...of that commitment at all on this absolutely key issue for Scottish economic growth. At least they didn’t write this promise on the side of a bus,’’ he added.

In earlier evidence, his Nationalist colleague Margaret Ferrier questioned why the four universities chosen for the post-study work visa pilot scheme - which allow students to remain and work in the UK for two years after graduating - were all in England, suggesting it would have made better sense for each to have come from the four nations of the UK.

Mr Goodwill stressed how the criteria was based “purely on the data” ie on those colleges with the consistently low level of visa refusals. “They just happened to be all in England,” he said.

But Mr Mundell, who stressed he accepted the pilot universities were done on “objective criteria”, pledged: “If the pilot is successful, then it will happen in Scotland and I will champion it happening in Scotland; I give that absolute undertaking.”

Read more: Draft bill for second independence referendum to be published

Meantime in the Commons during an SNP-led debate on migration, Ms Sturgeon was accused of double standards after Joanna Cherry, the Nationalists’ home affairs spokeswoman, denounced UK ministers for using migrants as “bargaining chips” in the Brexit talks.

Mr Goodwill interjected, however, to claim that, during the 2014 independence referendum campaign, the SNP leader had herself suggested EU nationals were bargaining chips.

The Home Office minister claimed the then deputy first minister had cast doubt on the future of 160,000 EU citizens living in Scotland by saying they would "lose their right to stay here" if the country were outside Europe.

But Ms Cherry replied: “There is absolutely no question that the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon or her predecessor[Alex Salmond] ever threatened EU nationals with not being part of Scottish society.

"Our policy has been clear for many, many years; we want an independent Scotland inside the European Union with equal rights for all living in Scotland.”