Visas: European Union Students

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Monday 4th November 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

It is pleasing to note that the number of students from EEA and non-EEA countries who come to this country to study continues to rise. There is no suggestion that those on courses longer than three years will be unable to complete them. Those with Euro TLR will be able to make an application under the student route before their leave expires.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister share my concern at the report in the Times today about the number of students coming to independent schools and colleges from Vietnam who seem to have disappeared after they have attended for one term? Apparently paying one term’s fees and then disappearing is cheaper than paying the traffickers.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord highlights that it is very important that the student sponsor route is a secure one. For that reason, certain universities have a much easier process than others. Of course, we did in the past root out and close down bogus colleges which were responsible for a huge amount of illegal migration.

Freedom of Expression

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Wednesday 3rd April 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I say to my noble friend that the conventions and rules of this place and the other place have been upheld for hundreds of years and I agree that we should have the time to be able to consider such huge matters before us at this time.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

If there was objection on the grounds of the language used, what was the offensive word? Was it bollocks or Brexit?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Probably both.

Asylum Seekers: Students

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Wednesday 9th May 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As I said earlier, officials are proactively looking at these cases that might inadvertently have been caught out where the imposition of study bans have happened as a result of immigration bail. The answer is that it is immediate and I hope that this issue will be sorted out very quickly. In addition, new guidance has also been issued.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

When the Minister was replying to the noble Lord, Lord Christopher, she referred to cohorts of students. Can she tell us how that word creeps into the answer, as it implies that there is some group of students for whom there is a collective exclusion?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, the noble Lord might like to check Hansard. I was referring not to cohorts of students but cohorts of individuals who might be prohibited from studying.

Brexit: Immigration Policy

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Wednesday 30th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The Prime Minister has been very clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living here and that the only circumstance in which that would not be possible is if British citizens’ rights in EU member states were not protected in turn. She said today that it was right to give reassurances to both sets of citizens:

“I think the reaction that we have seen shows why it was absolutely right for us not to do what the Labour party wanted us to do, which was simply to give away the guarantee for rights of EU citizens here in the UK. As we have seen, that would have left UK citizens in Europe high and dry”.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Minister now reply to the very pertinent question asked by my noble friend Lord Reid, which she did not answer? He invited her to draw a clear distinction of understanding between freedom of movement of persons and freedom of movement of labour. On which of the two principles is the government policy currently based?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I thought I had explained it quite clearly.

Calais: Child Refugees

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Monday 24th October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I assure the right reverend Prelate that at no time has our support to the French authorities been less than exemplary. The challenge has been that in providing that support we are reliant on French law and how the French do things. However, the support process and the co-operation, which have been two-sided, have been very good in the last few days and weeks.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

My Lords, have the Government yet made up their mind about the fate of these children when they reach 18? When I asked that question before, the Minister was very unclear about whether any decision had yet been made.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord will know that each child and each circumstance is different and that the type of protection that a child needs is different in each case. When a child reaches 18, he or she then becomes an adult and, just as would be the case in this country, different assessments are made of the status of that child. Obviously, if he or she came from another country, they would then enter the asylum process, as would any other adult.

Immigration

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Monday 12th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, people may come here to work long term or short term. If they are here to work for, say, three months, which many people are, and then go home, they will not be counted in the long-term immigration figures.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

Is it now government policy once again to reduce the net migration figure to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands? If that is the policy, as I gather it was from listening to Amber Rudd on the “Andrew Marr Show” yesterday, will she give us any compelling reason why we should believe that promise any more than the promise made by Mr Cameron?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I can give that assurance. As my right honourable friend the Home Secretary made clear, it will take time and we are quite clear about that.

Allotments

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tomlinson

Wednesday 3rd December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, it may help my noble friend to know that waiting lists have come down, from 57 people waiting for every 100 plots two years ago to 52 people waiting for every 100 plots—

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

That is progress, certainly.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

It is progress. It may also help my noble friend to know that neighbourhood plans, which require local communities to work with local councils, will now inform planning committees when they make decisions, particularly with regard to allotments.