Student Visas

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 14 December 2009.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Andrew MacKay Andrew MacKay Conservative, Bracknell 2:30, 14 December 2009

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the system for processing student visa applications.

Photo of Andrew MacKay Andrew MacKay Conservative, Bracknell

I am not sure that the Minister fully answered the earlier question, watching as I was on the screen in my office, about referees being confirmed as British and suitable for purpose. Will he now answer that question?

Photo of Phil Woolas Phil Woolas Minister of State (the North West), Home Office, Minister of State (the North West), HM Treasury, Minister of State (the North West), Regional Affairs

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for asking the same question as Mr. Evennett. When the right hon. Gentleman gets to his office tomorrow, he can read the reply in Hansard. The serious point, of course, is that there are different strategies for checking on the eligibility and suitability of those people. This question has been raised by hon. Members on both sides of the House, and that is why we have re-examined the system to ensure that it is robust.