Legal Migration Debate

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Department: Home Office
Monday 4th December 2023

(1 year ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Cleverly Portrait James Cleverly
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My right hon. Friend is right to draw our attention to students. Our university sector is a global success story and widely respected around the world. We want to make sure it maintains that reputation for quality. We want to make sure that the global brightest and best who choose to come to study and work here are genuinely the global brightest and best. Higher education should be a route to study and education, rather than a visa route by the back door.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
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Since the crew for fishing vessels was added to the shortage occupation list by the Government, only a handful of visas have been granted. That is not because of the earnings threshold—most would meet that requirement comfortably—but because of the requirement for the English language test at level B1. Why does the Home Secretary think that B1 is an appropriate level for somebody working on a fishing boat?

James Cleverly Portrait James Cleverly
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An inability to speak English would hamper anybody, and it really is entirely reasonable to expect people coming here to work to be able to do so.