Controlling Migration

Earl Attlee Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Maclennan of Rogart]

My Lords—

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, we have not heard from a Conservative yet.

[Lord Myners]

You are all in it together!

[Earl Attlee]

There is plenty of time. Let us have a Conservative and then a Liberal Democrat.

[Lord Lucas]

My Lords, I am grateful. I am delighted that there is to be a consultation on students and I hope that the noble Baroness will feel able to include me in that consultation as editor of the Good Schools Guide and let me know who else is being consulted. I very much hope that it will include all further education institutions, private and public. I regret the derogatory tone taken about that sector in the Statement; many good-quality institutions provide excellent courses below degree level, which are in great demand throughout the world. We should export a strong and large export industry employing many people in this country. I agree that it should have quality controls and that the previous Government were remiss in completely failing to install the sort of system that has just been talked about, but we should be positive about the sector and support it as there is a great deal of good there and a great deal of employment.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords—

[Earl Attlee]

There has been only one Conservative question.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, can my noble friend expand a little on the reference to Highly Trusted Sponsors, who might be allowed to offer courses at a lower level—“Highly Trusted Sponsors” having an upper-case H, T and S?