Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, what assessment they have made of the impact of the levy on international student fees on the financial sustainability of the higher education sector.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The Immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

The White Paper includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students. We will set out further details in due course, including setting out the way in which proceeds from the levy would be reinvested into our HE and skills system.

The business models of a significant number of providers will need to change in the near future to ensure financial sustainability. All providers must continue to adapt to uncertainties and financial risks. We will publish our plans for reform of the HE system in the summer as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, which areas of the skills and higher education sector the levy on international student fees will be reinvested.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The Immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

The White Paper includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students. We will set out further details in due course, including setting out the way in which proceeds from the levy would be reinvested into our HE and skills system.

The business models of a significant number of providers will need to change in the near future to ensure financial sustainability. All providers must continue to adapt to uncertainties and financial risks. We will publish our plans for reform of the HE system in the summer as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, whether they plan to introduce primary legislation to implement the levy on international student fees.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The Immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

The White Paper includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students. We will set out further details in due course, including setting out the way in which proceeds from the levy would be reinvested into our HE and skills system.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, whether they will carry out an impact assessment for the levy on international student fees.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The Immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.

The White Paper includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students. We will set out further details in due course, including setting out the way in which proceeds from the levy would be reinvested into our HE and skills system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, whether they will publish a comparison of the latest individual higher education provider performance data and sector average performance data with the thresholds for the basic compliance assessment relating to (1) visa refusal rates, (2) enrolment rates, and (3) course completion rates; and whether they will publish the individual provider performance data and sector average performance data for each of the past three years.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

Found: Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton; Lord Harlech; Baroness Hussein-Ece; Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Found: Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton; Lord Harlech; Baroness Hussein-Ece; Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Further Education and Lifelong Learning APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: of Frognal Chris Russell, Senior Policy Manager, Federation of Small Business (FSB) Lord Johnson of Marylebone