Sir Nicholas Soames
Does my hon. Friend agree that, generally speaking, the rule the Government should adopt, given the unfortunate decision that this country has taken to leave the European Union and in order to make our way in the world to the greatest advantage, is that we must retain a very open system to allow the brightest and the best to come and study here from all over the world at equal rates of charging, but also with a regime that allows them to stay here and work in an orderly, sensible manner that is easily enforced?
Chris Skidmore
From the international perspective of the United Kingdom’s universities, I entirely agree that we now have the highest ever number of applications from foreign countries—about 158,000.
[Official Report, 29 April 2019, Vol. 659, c. 30.]
Letter of correction from the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation:
An error has been identified in my response to my right hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Sir Nicholas Soames).
The correct response should have been:
Chris Skidmore
From the international perspective of the United Kingdom’s universities, I entirely agree that we now have the highest ever number of applicants from foreign countries—about 134,000.