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Written Question
Overseas Students: Liberia
Wednesday 6th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Hannay of Chiswick (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to enable prospective higher education students in Liberia to take English language tests in Monrovia and not to have to travel to Accra.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

Higher Education Providers (HEP) with a track record of compliance are able to decide how they assess the English language ability of their students studying at degree level or above. They can make this assessment however they choose and the Government does not impose any requirement for prospective students to travel to another country.

Due to Covid-19, the ability for Higher Education Providers to self-assess the English ability of their prospective students has been exceptionally extended to some students studying below degree level.

Where sponsors are not HEPs, students are required to demonstrate English ability to B1 level. These students must demonstrate their English language ability by undertaking a Secure English Language Test (SELT), or meet one of the exceptions.

There is currently a procurement project underway for SELT. Following mobilisation of new concessions there will be four overseas SELT Providers, which will increase customers choice of location for taking a test.

Both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships programmes have poli-cies in place to ensure maximum flexibility and opportunity for scholarship awardees from countries where English language testing facilities are limited or unavailable.

The Chevening Scholarship provides assistance to Chevening scholars who are required to travel internationally to take English Language Testing (ELTs), or if necessary, bring invigilators to posts.


Written Question
Overseas Students: Scholarships
Wednesday 6th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Hannay of Chiswick (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that candidates in receipt of offers for Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships can take English language tests in their country of origin.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

Higher Education Providers (HEP) with a track record of compliance are able to decide how they assess the English language ability of their students studying at degree level or above. They can make this assessment however they choose and the Government does not impose any requirement for prospective students to travel to another country.

Due to Covid-19, the ability for Higher Education Providers to self-assess the English ability of their prospective students has been exceptionally extended to some students studying below degree level.

Where sponsors are not HEPs, students are required to demonstrate English ability to B1 level. These students must demonstrate their English language ability by undertaking a Secure English Language Test (SELT), or meet one of the exceptions.

There is currently a procurement project underway for SELT. Following mobilisation of new concessions there will be four overseas SELT Providers, which will increase customers choice of location for taking a test.

Both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships programmes have poli-cies in place to ensure maximum flexibility and opportunity for scholarship awardees from countries where English language testing facilities are limited or unavailable.

The Chevening Scholarship provides assistance to Chevening scholars who are required to travel internationally to take English Language Testing (ELTs), or if necessary, bring invigilators to posts.


Written Question
English Language: Assessments
Wednesday 6th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Hannay of Chiswick (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government from which countries in Sub-Saharan Africa it is necessary for potential students to travel to another country to take an English language test in order to obtain a UK student visa.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

Higher Education Providers (HEP) with a track record of compliance are able to decide how they assess the English language ability of their students studying at degree level or above. They can make this assessment however they choose and the Government does not impose any requirement for prospective students to travel to another country.

Due to Covid-19, the ability for Higher Education Providers to self-assess the English ability of their prospective students has been exceptionally extended to some students studying below degree level.

Where sponsors are not HEPs, students are required to demonstrate English ability to B1 level. These students must demonstrate their English language ability by undertaking a Secure English Language Test (SELT), or meet one of the exceptions.

There is currently a procurement project underway for SELT. Following mobilisation of new concessions there will be four overseas SELT Providers, which will increase customers choice of location for taking a test.

Both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships programmes have poli-cies in place to ensure maximum flexibility and opportunity for scholarship awardees from countries where English language testing facilities are limited or unavailable.

The Chevening Scholarship provides assistance to Chevening scholars who are required to travel internationally to take English Language Testing (ELTs), or if necessary, bring invigilators to posts.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 25 Feb 2020
Immigration: Points-based System

"My Lords, will the Minister answer a couple of questions about the impact of this points-based system on the higher education sector? First, she said in the Statement that there would be an English test: is that test to be carried out by the Home Office or by the higher …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Immigration: Points-based System

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 10 Oct 2017
Immigration: International Students

"My Lords, does the Minister recognise that citation of selective statistics is not terribly convincing—the Indian figure, for instance, being 50% down over recent years? She sits on the Government Bench, which continually tells us that we have to respect votes. Does she therefore recognise that it might be better …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Immigration: International Students

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 07 Feb 2017
Brexit: UK-EU Security (EUC Report)

"My Lords, the report we are debating this evening about the implications of Brexit in the field of internal security and police co-operation is truly excellent. I congratulate the committee and its chair, my noble friend Lady Prashar, who introduced the report so eloquently this evening, on its quality. As …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Brexit: UK-EU Security (EUC Report)

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 Jan 2017
European Union: Freedom of Movement

"My Lords, will the Minister, rather than answering a question she was not asked, answer the question she was asked by the noble Lord, Lord Dubs? He asked why we do not now apply the three-month rule, not what we will apply when we have a new relationship. I understand …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union: Freedom of Movement

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 24 Oct 2016
Brexit: EU Citizens

"Could the Minister perhaps be so kind as to have a different approach to the one she has taken so far and confirm that the British Government will not themselves place on the negotiating table any removal of rights to any EU citizens who are here? I am sure that …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Brexit: EU Citizens

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 06 Jun 2016
Migration

"My Lords, does the Minister recognise that his reply on students was some of the story but not all of it? He did not mention that students are disproportionately unlikely to demand NHS services and are provided for by housing which is in ample supply for students on the commercial …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Migration

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 01 Mar 2016
European Union: Refugees

"My Lords, as we begin a four-month marathon debate on whether Britain should remain a member of the EU, it is good that the noble Lord, Lord Higgins, enables us to discuss, however briefly, another major challenge facing the EU—all the more so since the EU’s handling of this problem …..."
Lord Hannay of Chiswick - View Speech

View all Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union: Refugees