SNP MPs and MSPs have attacked the Scottish Secretary over comments he made on migrants while giving evidence on Brexit in Holyrood earlier.

Alister Jack had been telling the Culture, Transport, Europe and External Affairs Committee about plans for the UK's relationship with the EU, following negotiations in Brussels this week. 

While discussing plans for a points-based immigration system after the Brexit transition period ends, Jack suggested European migrants have come to the UK "on the basis that they get access to our NHS and our benefits system".

Drew Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathsprey, condemned the comment as "outrageous". 

READ MORE: Alister Jack prompts anger among MSPs with migrant comment

On Twitter, the party's business spokesperson hit out at the Scottish Secretary. He wrote: "Outrageous. An absolute shocker. Xenophobic, dangerous nonsense which will further enrage an already very worried business sector in Scotland as well as those across our communities."

Social Security Secretary Shirley Anne Somerville also hit out at Jack, accusing him of "dog whistle politics".

She wrote: "While everyone might be finding Alister Jack’s comments on a tunnel both ridiculous and funny, can we actually focus on this dog whistle politics on immigration. It’s dangerous and it’s untrue."

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell, too, was critical of the Scottish Secretary. He wrote: "A very foolish comment which will be a dog whistle for some. Also demonstrably untrue - many migrants are highly skilled and their contribution is across all parts of our national life."

During the session committee member Annabelle Ewing criticised the comments, calling them "pretty poor".

Jack had told MSPs: "There’s been a tendency in the past for us to bring in cheap migrant labour and they’ve come on the basis that they get access to our NHS and our benefits system.

"I think going forward we have to, I think as you know the rules will be they’ll make a contribution towards the NHS for the next five years, and then that will change – but it’s right that while they’re doing that employers should be paying them more money.

"And we should be proud of doing that, we should be looking to raise wages and not try and still operate a low-wage economy."

After pointing out that the Scottish Government had policy to help implement a real living wage while the UK Government did not, Ewing criticised Jack's comments.

READ MORE: Alister Jack: Optimism and hard work will make Brexit a success

She told him: "But on the issue of the statement you made about Europeans coming here to get access to our health service, I think really that level of debate about the participation of EU nationals in Scottish economic life and Scottish life is really pretty poor –"

Jack replied: "I didn’t say that. You’re putting words in my mouth."

During the evidence session, Jack also said the plan for a 'Boris Bridge' connecting Scotland and Northern Ireland would not really be a bridge, but would be a tunnel. He claimed the bridge was a "euphemism" for the tunnel.

READ MORE: WATCH: Scottish Secretary says 'Boris Bridge' is a 'euphemism'

The Scottish Secretary also said Brexit would be a success with the help of optimism and hard work.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State was clear that people who do tough jobs like filleting fish should be paid a decent wage.

"If Drew Henry disagrees with that he should explain why.‎”