Oral Answers to Questions

Philippa Whitford Excerpts

Monday 29th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Skidmore]

I am always happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. I am sure he remembers that when I was a Cabinet Office I happily worked with him on an amendment he tabled to the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 regarding student registration. However, since 2017, the figures show a rise in EU and non-EU students. He mentions market share. He is absolutely right that we want to do more and that we need to do more. That is why we published our international education strategy, which has the ambition not just of raising the complete value of international education from £30 billion to £35 billion by 2030, but of putting in the figure of 600,000 students. It is not just about having a system that works around visas, but the whole student experience and ensuring the UK is the best place to study globally.

[Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on tertiary education of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

[John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP)]

8. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on tertiary education of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

[The Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore)]

The Government remain focused on securing a deal that will ensure an orderly exit from the EU. We are considering all aspects of how exiting the EU might affect education, including the delivery of the Government guarantee, attracting international students and staff, and access to student finance.

[Dr Whitford]

In contrast to Scotland, the Secretary of State proposes to remove home fee status from EU students after Brexit. This has created such concern that the Norwegian higher education Minister is advising students to avoid the UK. Is the Secretary of State proud that his plans are causing European students to avoid our universities?

[Chris Skidmore]

I recently met the Norwegian Minister the hon. Lady mentions, Iselin Nybø, to reassure her of the UK Government’s commitment to student programmes such as Erasmus and scientific programmes such as Horizon 2020. What I am not happy with is Members talking down our higher education system when the Government want to ensure that we bring more students here. We are looking at how to do that as part of our education strategy.