To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the level of the English test fees set by the UK Border Agency; and if she will make a statement.

holding answer 25 November 2011

Test costs are set by the providers and not the UK Border Agency. While we monitor the provision of tests by our providers, it would not be right to impose fees or limits especially when providers are operating overseas, as we are not experts in the field of language testing. We are confident that our providers give value for money and that costs are proportionate. If information was received to the contrary, we would address this with the provider concerned.