Asked by: Baroness Spielman (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of switching English testing for visa applicants to an online-only model; how the incidence of fraud will be monitored; and at what level the incidence of fraud would result in a reconsideration of the process.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The current service has been in place in the current form for some years and has not been significantly innovated in terms of developing technology in this space. We know, from our market engagement, that there is opportunity to deliver improvements in this service as well as taking all that is good about current delivery and service. This procurement takes all the elements of current delivery and process and innovation based on new and emerging technology. Every incidence of fraud will be treated swiftly with the upmost seriousness and an appropriate level of consequence for all those involved.