Oral Answers to Questions

David Morris Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)]

1. What steps she is taking to strengthen the accreditation regime for colleges that admit foreign students.

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

9. What steps she is taking to strengthen the accreditation regime for colleges that admit foreign students.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

16. What steps she is taking to strengthen the accreditation regime for colleges that admit foreign students.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs May]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and what I have announced today is just the start. All private colleges will have to go through that rigorous accreditation system by the end of the year and those that fail the system will no longer be able to bring in international students.

[David Morris]

I am pleased to hear that the Government are successfully shutting off immigration through bogus colleges with the accreditation scheme, and I was glad to hear the answer to the previous question.

[Mrs May]

My hon. Friend has mentioned the accreditation scheme for colleges, but of course we are going further in taking action against individual students as well as restricting their rights. We have introduced new rules on English language and we have restricted students’ rights to work and to bring in family members. Next April we will close the post-study work route that has allowed graduates two years’ free access to the labour market here in the UK. We want to make sure that those who come to study are coming genuinely to study and not to work.