Student Visas

Aidan Burley Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mrs May]

A process will be set out for those legitimate colleges by the UK Border Agency. It will be necessary that they apply for highly trusted sponsor status and for accreditation, and we will set out the time limit for that application process soon. They will need to receive highly trusted sponsor status by April 2012 and educational accreditation by the end of 2012.

[Mr Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) (Con)]

Last and hopefully not least, I am sure that I am not the only Member of the House who is astonished by how widespread the abuse of the student visa system has become. May I ask the Home Secretary whether our policy to reduce net migration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands is supported by the shadow Home Secretary?

[Mrs May]

That is a very good question, and perhaps the shadow Home Secretary would like to answer it at some stage.