Leaving the EU: UK Language Schools Debate

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Department: Home Office

Leaving the EU: UK Language Schools

Jim Shannon Excerpts
Tuesday 19th July 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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The hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) was first.

--- Later in debate ---
Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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My apologies: I think the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) wanted to intervene next.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon
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I thank the hon. Lady for bringing the debate forward. Does she agree—I think she does—that there is undoubtedly work to do to highlight the benefits of learning English and other languages in the superior schools that we have? Consideration must be given to fast-track visas and discounted fees, which may be a necessary push to make that happen and to bring about what she is trying to achieve.

Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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I completely concur with the hon. Member. We have all heard about the backlog—perhaps the Minister will talk about it—of people waiting to get passports at this time of year when they want to go on holiday. The laborious, ponderous hoops that people have to jump through seem a bit too much, compared with what used to be a relatively simple thing when we had freedom of movement.