Caroline Lucas

Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has raised concerns over new visa requirements for foreign students studying English in the UK with Government Ministers.

The new rules adversely affect the teaching English to foreign students industry in Brighton and Hove, which provides significant employment, and contributes around £105 million to the local economy.

After fears of risks of terrorism and scam student applications, the previous Government tightened visa rules in February so that foreign students who wanted to come to the UK to study need to speak "passable" English.

Students who wanted to learn English - and who may have had little initial knowledge of the language - would have found themselves ineligible for a visa.

There are fears that much of the market for basic English tuition to foreign students in the UK would have collapsed.

Caroline met Damian Green, Minister for Immigration, and the Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency to seek a solution.

Caroline said:
“Concerned MPs had a productive meeting with the Minister.

“He listened to our points that the new visa rules are a sledge hammer to crack a nut and aren’t the right way forward.

“We put the case that concerns about illegal immigration can be dealt with through a more rounded approach to a person’s general education, whether they have a sponsor in position of trust who can vouch for them, and whether the country they come from is deemed to be high risk.  

“Given that Autumn is a critical time for the English language school industry to recruit students, I’m pleased that the Minister has agreed to fast-track a review of how the visa rules affect English language schools so we may have a much clearer position soon.

“Meanwhile we’ll keep up the pressure.”

For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonhovegreens.org