Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) the UK visa system and (b) Government discourse on migration encourage international students to choose (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK as their study destination.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Our offer to international students is extremely competitive, attracting the brightest and best talent the world has to offer, and welcoming people who will contribute to the UK’s excellent academic reputation and help keep our universities competitive on the world stage. The Government appreciates the significant academic, economic and cultural contribution international students make to the UK’s society as a whole.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Office for National Statistics will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Office for National Statistics is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
The Lord Stevens of Birmingham
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
19 January 2024
Dear Lord Stevens of Birmingham,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017 (HL1604). And further to the classification review of universities announced by the ONS in January 2017, what assessment we have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review (HL1606).
The ONS regularly reviews legislation and guidance relating to a number of institutions, including universities, to determine whether any changes would have a potential impact on their sector classification. As such, the classification review of universities in the UK, first announced on 31 January 2017 [1] will consider whether the substantial rise in tuition fees from 2012, and other changes in funding arrangements affect the classification of universities.
A further statement on the classification review of universities in the UK was released on 5 April 2018 [2]. This statement explained that the classification review had been paused because of the announcement of the review of post-18 education and funding, which raised the possibility that the cap for tuition fees may be altered. As this could affect the classification status of individual universities, the statement confirmed the classification review would recommence when there is more certainty in this area.
It was necessary to further postpone the classification review of universities in the UK due to new higher priority classification cases, such as support schemes initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently, the energy support schemes introduced in 2022 and 2023.
At present, the ONS plans to begin the classification review of universities in the UK from Quarter 2 (April – June) 2024. However, classification priorities can change quickly, and the expected dates of completion are only indicative. Our forward work plan 3 is updated each month to reflect changes in priorities. Table 1 shows the expected timetable for the classification review.
Table 1: Expected timetable for the classification review of universities [3]
Name of case | Expected date of completion |
Universities (Scotland) | Quarter 2 (Apr to Jun) 2024 |
Universities (Northern Ireland) | Quarter 3 (Jul to Sep) 2024 |
Universities (Wales) | Quarter 3 (Jul to Sep) 2024 |
Universities (England) | Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2025 |
Source: Forward Work Plan December 2023 (19 December 2023)
The ONS has not yet made an assessment of the fiscal consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies. Within our forward work plan, for each of the four cases involved, we have provided an indication that the impact on fiscal aggregates could be small (less than £100 million change).
The ONS is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] Classification review of universities in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[3] Economic statistics sector classification – Forward Work Plan dataset (XLSX, 128KB)
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the classification review of universities announced by the Office for National Statistics in January 2017, what assessment they have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Office for National Statistics is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
The Lord Stevens of Birmingham
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
19 January 2024
Dear Lord Stevens of Birmingham,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017 (HL1604). And further to the classification review of universities announced by the ONS in January 2017, what assessment we have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review (HL1606).
The ONS regularly reviews legislation and guidance relating to a number of institutions, including universities, to determine whether any changes would have a potential impact on their sector classification. As such, the classification review of universities in the UK, first announced on 31 January 2017 [1] will consider whether the substantial rise in tuition fees from 2012, and other changes in funding arrangements affect the classification of universities.
A further statement on the classification review of universities in the UK was released on 5 April 2018 [2]. This statement explained that the classification review had been paused because of the announcement of the review of post-18 education and funding, which raised the possibility that the cap for tuition fees may be altered. As this could affect the classification status of individual universities, the statement confirmed the classification review would recommence when there is more certainty in this area.
It was necessary to further postpone the classification review of universities in the UK due to new higher priority classification cases, such as support schemes initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently, the energy support schemes introduced in 2022 and 2023.
At present, the ONS plans to begin the classification review of universities in the UK from Quarter 2 (April – June) 2024. However, classification priorities can change quickly, and the expected dates of completion are only indicative. Our forward work plan 3 is updated each month to reflect changes in priorities. Table 1 shows the expected timetable for the classification review.
Table 1: Expected timetable for the classification review of universities [3]
Name of case | Expected date of completion |
Universities (Scotland) | Quarter 2 (Apr to Jun) 2024 |
Universities (Northern Ireland) | Quarter 3 (Jul to Sep) 2024 |
Universities (Wales) | Quarter 3 (Jul to Sep) 2024 |
Universities (England) | Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2025 |
Source: Forward Work Plan December 2023 (19 December 2023)
The ONS has not yet made an assessment of the fiscal consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies. Within our forward work plan, for each of the four cases involved, we have provided an indication that the impact on fiscal aggregates could be small (less than £100 million change).
The ONS is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] Classification review of universities in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[3] Economic statistics sector classification – Forward Work Plan dataset (XLSX, 128KB)
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on bringing Afghan female medical students to Scotland.
Answered by John Lamont - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
My Department is working with the Home Office, the FCDO, the Scottish Government and Scottish Universities to support the efforts of the Norgrove Foundation.
This is a complex issue and discussions remain ongoing to determine what pathway might be available to the students.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to work with the devolved administration to promote eye care research in Northern Ireland’s universities.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst health policy is largely devolved, the Department works together with other Government departments and the devolved administrations to support research across the United Kingdom. From autumn 2023, health and social care researchers, including universities and in some cases subject matter experts (SMEs), in the devolved administrations will have increased access to health and social care research funding via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including eye care.
The move has been agreed following consultation with the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office, Health and Care Research Wales and Health and Social Care Research & Development in Northern Ireland. The announcement expands the list of NIHR research programmes that are available to researchers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The move will boost research across the United Kingdom and help increase access to research for people in the three devolved administrations.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on support for (a) businesses and (b) universities for research into psilocybin.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Drug policy and the associated legislation regarding its use and possession is reserved. I have not had any discussions with the Scottish Government regarding research into psilocybin.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 23 May 2023, HCWS800 on Immigration update, what evidence her Department holds to support the existence of unscrupulous education agents supporting inappropriate applications from international students.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The package of measures we have introduced to reform the student route strikes the right balance between protecting the economic benefits students can bring to the UK whilst meeting the Government’s commitment to lower net migration.
We consider our Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy, and an Equality Impact Assessment was produced and considered in developing this package of reforms.
We regularly engage with a range of organisations to understand potential policy impacts, including with Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Devolved Governments were informed of the publication of the Written Ministerial Statement on 23 May by way of a letter from Home Office Ministers.
The public rightly expects us to control immigration and ensure we have a system that works in the UK’s best interests. and The Department for Education will lead the review of education agents.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 23 May 2023, HCWS800 on Immigration update, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence she has had with universities in Scotland on her immigration update.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The package of measures we have introduced to reform the student route strikes the right balance between protecting the economic benefits students can bring to the UK whilst meeting the Government’s commitment to lower net migration.
We consider our Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy, and an Equality Impact Assessment was produced and considered in developing this package of reforms.
We regularly engage with a range of organisations to understand potential policy impacts, including with Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Devolved Governments were informed of the publication of the Written Ministerial Statement on 23 May by way of a letter from Home Office Ministers.
The public rightly expects us to control immigration and ensure we have a system that works in the UK’s best interests. and The Department for Education will lead the review of education agents.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 23 May 2023, HCWS800 on Immigration update, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence she has had with Scottish Ministers on the her immigration update.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The package of measures we have introduced to reform the student route strikes the right balance between protecting the economic benefits students can bring to the UK whilst meeting the Government’s commitment to lower net migration.
We consider our Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy, and an Equality Impact Assessment was produced and considered in developing this package of reforms.
We regularly engage with a range of organisations to understand potential policy impacts, including with Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Devolved Governments were informed of the publication of the Written Ministerial Statement on 23 May by way of a letter from Home Office Ministers.
The public rightly expects us to control immigration and ensure we have a system that works in the UK’s best interests. and The Department for Education will lead the review of education agents.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish an equality impact assessment on the policies in her Written Ministerial Statement of 23 May 2023 entitled Immigration update, HCWS800.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The package of measures we have introduced to reform the student route strikes the right balance between protecting the economic benefits students can bring to the UK whilst meeting the Government’s commitment to lower net migration.
We consider our Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy, and an Equality Impact Assessment was produced and considered in developing this package of reforms.
We regularly engage with a range of organisations to understand potential policy impacts, including with Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Devolved Governments were informed of the publication of the Written Ministerial Statement on 23 May by way of a letter from Home Office Ministers.
The public rightly expects us to control immigration and ensure we have a system that works in the UK’s best interests. and The Department for Education will lead the review of education agents.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.