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Written Question
Overseas Students: Employment
Monday 4th July 2022

Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to allow overseas students to have the right to access paid work placements in the UK, of up to six months, under the Short-term Student (English language) route.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Those who wish to study the English Language for up to 6 months can do so under the visitor route, they do not need to apply for a Short-Term Study Visa.

The Short-term Student (English language) route is for those whose aim is to study the English language, not for those wishing to work in the UK. Changing this position would open this route to potential abuse by those whose intention would primarily be to work, not study, as we saw in the past when the then student routes were widely abused for this purpose.


Written Question
Refugees: Ukraine
Monday 28th March 2022

Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow (1) medical, and (2) veterinary, students who are refugees from Ukraine to (a) complete their studies, and (b) work, in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

In response to the situation in Ukraine, we have launched both the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

People coming to the UK under these schemes will be able to work and study without restriction in the UK, including in veterinary and medical areas.


Written Question
Visas: Social Services
Thursday 11th November 2021

Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for granting fast-track visas for carers in order to relieve the shortage of workers caring for disabled people in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The introduction of the Health and Care visa in August 2020 made it quicker and cheaper for regulated health and care professionals – including Senior Care Workers - and their dependents to secure their visa.

In July, we commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the impact of ending free movement on the adult social care sector. The MAC have issued a call for evidence with stakeholders and we look forward to receiving their report in April 2022.


Written Question
Migrant Workers: Physiotherapy
Tuesday 24th March 2020

Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the points-based immigration system enables registered physiotherapists to be eligible for an NHS visa.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Physiotherapists are already eligible to come to the UK under Tier 2, the UK’s main route for skilled migrants. These roles will continue to be eligible under the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System.

The Government has also accepted the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation in their report on “A Points-based System and Salary Thresholds for Immigration” on occupations which should be subject to formal pay scales. This means physiotherapists will need to be paid in line the ‘Agenda for Change’ pay scales.

The Government’s manifesto set out plans for improving the visa system for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, including physiotherapists. Further details will be published in due course.


Written Question
Drugs
Tuesday 15th December 2015

Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to produce an update to the 2010 Drug Strategy, and if so, what is the timetable.

Answered by Lord Bates

The Government plans to refresh our approach and build on the balanced 2010 Drug Strategy ‘Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug-free life’ in line with the manifesto commitments including to tackle drugs as a key driver of crime; intervene early to prevent troubled young people being drawn into crime; and review how best to support those suffering from long term drug dependency back into work.

There are promising signs our approach is working - with a downward trend in drug use over the last decade and more people recovering from their dependency now than in 2009/10.

A date for the publication of the refreshed approach is yet to be confirmed.