17-10-03

Barrett secures Parliamentary debate on student visa charges

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today welcomed the news that he has secured a parliamentary debate on the impact of the Government's new visa charges on international students.

The Home Office announced that from 1st August this year, they would charge a fee of up to £250 to process applications to extend permission to stay in the UK.  Some 4,000 non-EU international students in Edinburgh alone will now have to pay this charge every time they wish to extend their stay in the UK.  In many cases, students will have to pay the charge up to four or five times during their University or College careers.

John Barrett will propose a parliamentary debate on the issue in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 22nd October at 3.30pm with a Home Office Minister set to respond.  It follows John Barrett's Early Day Motion (EDM 1729) on the same subject.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"I am delighted to have secured this important debate on an issue which affect thousands of students in Edinburgh. 

"The debate will allow me to press the Home Office on why these visa charges were announced without any consultation with Universities or Student Organisations and with such short notice. I also want to know how they can justify such high charges without promising any improvement in service.  Postal applications will only be processed within a maximum of 13 weeks.

"The Government has a lot to answer for.  My debate next Wednesday gives me the chance to get these answers.

ENDS                                           

Notes to Editors

• John Barrett has tabled the following Early Day Motion to Parliament

That this House notes with concern the new charges of up to £250 which were introduced by the Home Office on 1st August 2003 to process applications to extend permission to stay in the UK; further notes that all non-EU international students will be subject to this charge each time they apply to extend their stay in the UK; condemns the Government for the way in which these charges were introduced with no consultation with Universities, Colleges or Student Organisations and only 21 days notice given; notes that the charges will not result in an improved service with the Home Office still aiming to process postal applications within a maximum of 13 weeks; is concerned that these charges will hit many international students studying in the UK , many of whom are still unaware of the change and who will have to pay the charge up to four or five times during their studies; believes the new charges run the risk of damaging the United Kingdom's long tradition of attracting students from across the World to our Colleges and Universities and therefore runs contrary to the Government's stated policy of attracting increased numbers of international students in the UK; congratulates the Edinburgh University Students' Association along with the many other student organisations across the country for their campaigns, seeking a reversal in this damaging policy and a full review of the way student visa applications are handled by the Home Office.

• Statistics on the numbers of Edinburgh students affected by the charges are given below:

Stevenson College	125
Telford College	121
Edinburgh College of Art	155
Edinburgh University	2070
Heriot Watt	850
Napier University	380
Queen Margaret Uni Coll	370
TOTAL	4071

• Statistics on student numbers at Edinburgh University by domicile (January 2003) are given below

Scotland	9,531	(46%)
Other UK	7,185	(34%)
Other EU	1,614	(8%)
International	2,531	(12%)

• The Government announced the new charges in a press statement on 10th July 2003.  It can be viewed using the following link www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=545

• On Thursday 9th October, John Barrett MP met with Sarah Nicholson, Vice President Representation and Jim Nicholson, Welfare Officer of Edinburgh University Students' Association.