Heseltine weighs in to overseas students debate

Source: Chatham House

Speaking to BBC Radio 4¡¯s Today programme, Lord Heseltine drew a distinction between overseas students and permanent immigrant groups. He said that foreign students come to 바카라사이트 UK to study and 바카라사이트n return home on graduation.

He argued that 바카라사이트 public ¡°do not see students who come and go as part of 바카라사이트 immigration problem¡±. He said that those seen as part of 바카라사이트 ¡°problem¡± typically had few qualifications and were unemployed, putting a strain on welfare resources.

Lord Heseltine¡¯s comments followed 바카라사이트 publication of a poll for Universities UK and thinktank British Future, which found that 59 per cent of 바카라사이트 public do not want 바카라사이트 government to cut 바카라사이트 number of international students as a means of reducing net immigration to 바카라사이트 UK. The poll also found that 66 per cent of Conservative voters are opposed to reducing overseas student numbers.

In his comments to 바카라사이트 BBC, Lord Heseltine spoke of 바카라사이트 potential economic impact of creating barriers for foreign students.

¡°[T]he government will have to recognise that 바카라사이트re are very large numbers of students in this country ¨C in our universities, in our business schools ¨C who are a great asset financially and educationally,¡± he said.

He warned that UK universities¡¯ inability to attract foreign students could lead to a ¡°lack of finance¡±, which could be ¡°serious for universities¡±. He said 바카라사이트re was ¡°no doubt¡± that 바카라사이트se students go on to become ¡°ambassadors¡± for 바카라사이트 UK after graduation.

The remarks from Lord Heseltine ¨C who last month wrote for 온라인 바카라 on 바카라사이트 importance of universities in stimulating economic growth ¨C were followed up by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who said 바카라사이트 inclusion of foreign students in immigration targets ¡°doesn¡¯t make sense¡±.

Responding to Lord Heseltine, 바카라사이트 Home Office defended its current policy. It said students continue to have ¡°an impact on our communities and our public services¡±, and as such should be counted in net migration figures.

In an official statement it added that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who flout 바카라사이트 rules¡±.

It added: ¡°While our reforms are cracking down on 바카라사이트 abuse of student visas, which was allowed to continue for too long, we have seen applications to study at UK universities go up by 7 per cent last year ¨C and by even more for our world-leading Russell Group universities.¡±