HOME Secretary Amber Rudd has ordered an investigation into how many EU workers Scottish firms need to thrive after Brexit.
Ms Rudd said she wanted to reassure businesses north of the Border that they would not face a shortage of labour from the day the UK leaves the EU.
But she said she will commission a body called the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to make a detailed analysis of the role of EU nationals in the UK economy and society.
The in-depth study will focus on patterns of migration from Europe, considering factors including regional distribution, skill levels and seasonal workers.
Advisers will be tasked with examining issues such as the economic and social costs and benefits of EU migration and the 
potential impact of any fall in arrivals from the bloc.
She wrote: “I want to tell businesses and employers across Scotland that the UK Government is listening. That is why, once we have left the EU, this Government will apply its own immigration rules and requirements which will meet the needs of UK 
businesses, but also wider society.
“Leaving the EU gives us the chance to control the flow of migration from Europe while ensuring we continue to attract people to the UK who benefit us economically, socially and culturally.
“Last month we outlined our offer to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK – we explained how those EU citizens living here before the yet-to-be-agreed cut-off date will be treated as if they are UK nationals for education, healthcare, benefits, pensions and social housing. 
“Within that offer we made it clear there will be no impending cliff edge. I want to therefore reassure Scottish businesses that they will not face a shortage of labour from the day we leave the EU.”
The committee will be asked to report back by September next year – seven months before the scheduled date for 
Britain’s formal departure in March 
2019.
It will be invited to produce interim reports before giving its final findings, as officials attempt to draw up a regime that incorporates an end to free movement while ensuring any fall in overseas labour does not damage the economy.
Writing to Professor Alan Manning, chairman of the MAC, the Home Secretary will say that under a future system “we will be able to apply different immigration rules and requirements according to the UK’s economic and social needs”.
The MAC will be asked to examine: 
l The current patterns of European Economic Area migration, including which sectors are most reliant on EU labour;
l The economic and social costs and 
benefits of EU migration to the UK economy;
l  The potential impact of a reduction in EU migration and the ways in which both 
business and the Government could adjust to this change;
l  The current impact of immigration, from both EU and non-EU countries, on the competitiveness of UK industry and skills and training;
l  Whether there is any evidence that the availability of unskilled labour has led to low UK investment in certain sectors.
Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of business organisation the CBI, welcomed the move as a “sensible first step”, saying the MAC review will be “vital” to address longer-term questions.
He said: “Businesses urgently need to know what a new system will look like – during transition and afterwards.”