Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent data by Enroly published on 27 March which showed that issuance of certificates of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies has significantly reduced, with overall deposits down by more than a third on the same point in 2023.

Answered by Baroness Barran

The government seeks to ensure that there is a fair and robust migration policy, whilst maintaining the UK’s place as a top destination for the best and brightest students from around the world. The department remains committed to the ambitions set out in the government’s International Education Strategy to host 600,000 international students per year and to increase the value of our education exports to £35 billion per year, both by 2030.

The department expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. The UK has four universities in the top 10, and 17 in the top 100. The UK has a highly sought after higher education (HE) experience, which is respected by students across the globe. The department is hugely proud to have met its international student recruitment ambition two years running.

However, the level of legal migration remains too high. As a result, on 4 December 2023, the government announced a new package of measures to reduce net migration and curb abuse and exploitation of the country’s immigration system. The department continues to work closely with the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, and other governmental departments to assess the impact of these changes on HE providers.

HE providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government. As such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The government takes a close interest in ensuring that the HE admissions system is fair and works closely with HE providers and sector bodies to make sure the system works well for students.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the disparities between conventional and Sharia-compliant mortgage products in respect of the imposition of capital gains tax.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

The government is aware of a difference in tax treatment when a commercial or residential property is refinanced using alternative rather than conventional finance methods. In these situations, a capital gains liability may arise for those using alternative financing, when this would not have been the case for those using conventional financing. The refinancing of main homes is unaffected as Private Residence Relief (PRR) applies.

On 16 January 2024, the government published the Tax Simplification for Alternative Finance consultation to seek views on reforms that would address the capital gains issue. The consultation closed on 9 April 2024 and all responses will be carefully considered and a summary of responses will be published in due course together with details of the next steps.

Found: Q21 Lord Sharkey: You mentioned the metrics agreed between the Treasury and regulators.

Found: Q3 Lord Sharkey: I have no relevant interest to declare. Miles, it is nice to see you again.

Found: Lord Sharkey No relevant interests to declare.

Found: Letter dated 15/05/2024 from Baroness Vere of Norbiton to Lord Livermore and Lord Sharkey regarding issues

No description available

The Financial Services Regulation Committee is taking evidence on the FCA’s consultation paper CP24/2: Our Enforcement Guide and publishing enforcement investigations—a new approach. The Committee has issued a call for written evidence and will invite the FCA to provide oral evidence to the Committee at a later date.