The Press Association reports:
Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has urged the Government to look at ways of “mitigating” the impact of an immigration cap on universities. Mr Kennedy, rector of Glasgow University, challenged universities minister David Willetts over the policy at question time.
“Given the Government’s policy on a cap on immigration, you will be aware Universities UK and many others right across the sector are worried about the impact this will have,” he said. “Ten per cent of university staff across the UK are non-EU nationals – 2,500 staff at the Scottish universities alone.
“What can you do with colleagues in the Home Office to mitigate the impact of this policy on the tertiary sector?” he asked. Mr Willetts said his department was working closely with Home Secretary Theresa May.
“On this I think we have reached a very sensible way forward that she announced the other day. Of course, if there are individual problems affecting universities in the operation of these controls, we’re interested to hear from them and will discuss them with Home Office ministers,” he assured Mr Kennedy.
Mrs May announced a temporary cap on non-EU immigration last month ahead of a permanent limit next year.
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6 Comments
Mr Kennedy makes a very good point. Lib Dems should make every effort to reduce the ill effects of what is probably the worst policy we have had to swallow to go into coalition.
It’s also worth pointing out that the limits on working hours laid down in student visas can cause problems for teaching in universities, as postgraduate students often teach part-time. (One of my teachers was unable to give extra classes because of his visa conditions.)
today more than ever we need to attract talent into the Country, and artificial caps on this should be reviewed.
He has a point, but is this really the most important thing Charles can think of to urge on the Coailtion?
“He has a point, but is this really the most important thing Charles can think of to urge on the Coailtion?”
Good God, where would you start?
Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness?
@Terry – as far as encouraging growth, it is a fairly important issue, brought up by Julian Huppert MP with some passion as well, as our universities are still a large contributor the “Brand UK”.
Andrea Gill is right here, universities are a BIG earner of foreign currency for us. Here’s an area where we have a massive trade surplus with China for instance. In what other business can we say that? It is big business and competitive as well, anyone who has been involved with marketing British universities abroad will know what rubbish it is when people who work in universities are accused of lacking commercial aptitude.