Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

The names of my noble friends Lord Dholakia and Lord Avebury are appended to the amendments put forward by the noble Baroness, Lady Anelay, and that signifies that they have full support from these Benches. At Second Reading we had a very full discussion on all these issues relating to international students. The Minister indicated that she was cognisant of the problems that have been raised here and that she would probably bring forward some fairly positive suggestions. I shall be listening with great interest to her response to these amendments. It is worth reiterating the points made earlier during our discussion on the first group of amendments by the noble Baroness, Lady Warwick, the noble Lord, Lord Dearing, and recently by the noble Baroness, Lady Carnegy of Lour, about the importance of the contribution made by overseas students to our universities. That is the case not just in financial terms—although it is important in financial terms—but in terms of the diversity of the student body and the wealth that that brings to our own students here in the UK. That point was made many times at Second Reading but it is worth reiterating. This country benefits enormously from the presence of those students. With regard to our science base, our scientific effort would be very much reduced without the contribution of overseas postgraduate students. We need to recognise how important those students are and often how difficult it is, particularly in relation to a PhD, when making an initial application to identify precisely how much time is needed. The standard time is three years, but frequently if one is studying for a scientific PhD the experiments may not go as hoped and a little extra time will be needed to finish it. The Minister indicated that she recognised how important that was and how futile it would be to send those students home to reapply for extensions to their visas. Similarly, those who want to stay on for another couple of months to get their results or go through their vivas and then stay for graduation should not be sent home in the mean time. We all recognised that those were fair issues to which some solution was needed. The noble Baroness, Lady Carnegy of Lour, was right when she said that we should recognise how quickly information gets around among the student community. There has already been a significant dip this year in the number of applications from overseas students, and that harm is being done by raising visa fees. The Government have been too brazen in saying that that significant dip in the number of applications does not matter. Some people might say that we already rip off such students with very high fees; there is no reason why we should also rip them off with the cost of visas. That point illustrates how word has already got round among the international student community. If we make it very difficult to apply or reapply for visas, we shall lose even more students. I hope that the Minister will respond positively to our pleas.