Business of the House

Wendy Chamberlain Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating Hannah, not least on her Pride of Britain award. She is doing a fantastic job in what will be very difficult circumstances. For young people and their families, it is a daunting prospect to be diagnosed with something such as that—many Members across the House will know about that experience at first hand. I thank Hannah and wish her well in the future; it is absolutely right that we mention her and her fantastic work today.

[Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)]

A Gazan student who is currently displaced in Egypt has been offered a place to study at the University of St Andrews and, following her acceptance, has been granted funding from several foundations. However, the Home Office has declined her student visa application on the basis that it does not believe that she is a genuine student. That effectively means that her place is lost, because the appeal process will take in excess of 12 months. We need an explanation for why the criteria for student visas seems to have changed without anybody being informed. What are the Government doing to remove the backlog in administrative reviews? Will the Leader of the House raise this case with the Home Secretary?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will certainly raise the matter with the Home Secretary. The hon. Lady will know that if there is a backlog, it is important that it is dealt with, but people will expect there to be robust procedures. I do not know what has happened in this case, but I will share it with the Home Secretary and get the hon. Lady an answer.