Debates between Lilian Greenwood and Paul Blomfield during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Thu 16th Jun 2011

Student Visas

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Paul Blomfield
Thursday 16th June 2011

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)
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Does my hon. Friend share the concerns expressed by the university of Nottingham in my constituency? Not only were these changes implemented very quickly, but detail on the changes is released in policy guidance and is changed on numerous occasions. The university says that the UKBA’s list of approved English language qualifications in the policy guidance changed numerous times between 21 April and the end of May, which is when there is a peak in the number of admissions that the university has to deal with.

Paul Blomfield Portrait Paul Blomfield
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My hon. Friend makes an important point. It goes back to the fact that the Government are not achieving the Home Secretary’s desired intent, which is to ensure that these changes are introduced in a non-disruptive way.

I return to the point that the Minister made. Clearly, there is confusion within our universities, so it might be helpful if he undertook to liaise with Universities UK to put out a statement saying that all offers made will be honoured without the requirement to meet the new visa regulations—if that is what he said.