Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the criteria for providing from public funds to those not in employment, but not physically disabled, with a car; how many such vehicles were provided in the year to April 2024; and at what cost to the public purse.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Individuals who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) higher rate mobility component, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enhanced-rate mobility component, Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) or War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS) are eligible to join the Motability Scheme. In exchange for part or all of their mobility component they receive a leased car, wheelchair or powered chair/scooter. The Department for Work and Pensions facilitates the transfer of the DLA, PIP and AFIP to Motability. WPMS is transferred by the Ministry of Defence.

Recipients of these benefits may be employed or not and can have both physical and mental health conditions.

We do not hold figures on the numbers of vehicles provided in the year to April 2024. There is no cost to the public purse for the Motability Scheme.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what grounds and to whom, a person ordered by a High Court Judge to be deported at the end of serving a custodial sentence in the UK, can appeal against such an order.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Where a decision has been taken to make a deportation order, appeals must usually be made to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), with onward rights of appeal to the Upper Tribunal and thence to the higher courts. Appeals involving national security or related grounds are heard before senior judges in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to check that universities in England do not reduce the intellectual, academic, and necessary linguistic qualifications required of international students admitted as undergraduates below those required of domestic applicants for similar courses.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The UK is outward looking and welcomes international students who make a positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and society as a whole.

Applicants to undergraduate courses usually have to have a minimum level of qualification in order to be considered. Where HE providers accept international qualifications, applicants can apply to the UK National Centre for the Recognition and Evaluation of International Qualifications and Skills for a Statement of Comparability. This compares overseas qualifications to the UK qualifications and framework levels.

HE providers are autonomous bodies, independent of government. As such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions. Government works closely with the sector to ensure that admissions remain fair and the Universities UK / Guild HE Fair Admissions Code of Practice is adhered to when HE providers make admissions decisions.

Student visa applicants must demonstrate their English language ability in order to be granted a visa. The level required depends on the level of study, and the type of course provider.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department has already confirmed that the government will continue implementing measures to reduce potential for abuse on the student visa route, including reviewing how the HE sector is currently assessing English language ability.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of total admissions of undergraduates were international students in each university in England for the academic year 2024–25.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) publishes data on the number of full-time undergraduate acceptances by domicile and provider. However, around 40% of non-European Union international full-time undergraduate entrants enter outside of UCAS and this will vary by provider. The latest data covers the 2023 admissions cycle and is published here: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2023.

UCAS data for the 2024 admissions cycle will be published on 30 January.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes data covering all international undergraduate entrants. The latest HESA data covers the 2022/23 academic year and is available here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/whos-in-he.

Found: Library Debate Pack, 28 March 2025 Pakistan: Christianity 06 Nov 2024 | HL1886 Asked by: Lord Marlesford