Migration: International Students Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for International Development
Lord Kennedy of Southwark
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Migration: International Students
Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts(5 years, 3 months ago)
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Baroness Williams of Trafford
The noble Lord might like to know that the number of student visas granted to students from India, a country he often asks me about, has increased by 33%, so there are certainly no problems there. Indeed, we have gone further than the MAC recommended on post-study leave to remain and increased it to six months for graduates, and we will increase it to 12 months for postgraduate students.
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, why are the Government having such difficulty getting people to believe their position on international students?
Baroness Williams of Trafford
I have just explained that in my reply to my noble friend Lord Holmes: we whip this question up although the facts before us belie it. I simply do not believe that a 26% increase in the number of visa applications represents a country struggling.