Members of Parliament (MPs from parties covering the spectrum of UK politics, have called on the new UK Coalition Government to drop new Tier 4 rules deemed “flawed and rushed”, first introduced by the ousted Labour Government; the requirement of overseas students needing to take an English test if they wished to study in the UK.
A total of 14 MPs – from Labour and the Green Party, to the Conservatives and Lib Dems – signed the motion stating the new Tier 4 rules would deter 100,000 student migrants from coming to the UK.
Adding weight to this swell in opinion is a judicial review requested by English UK in order to force the new Government to drop the Tier 4 rules, which English UK called “barmy.” English UK are taking action to protect the members they represent; the UK economy could lose up to £1.4 billion and see another 3,400 people made unemployed. English UK believe that the changes are irrational given the adverse effect they will have on English language centres and other stakeholders and the absence of any evidence to suggest that they will prevent abuse of the immigration system.
English UK released the following statement through their lawyers:
“The application for judicial review was issued on 22 March 2010. Just two days later, Collins J took the unusual step of granting permission before the Secretary of State had filed an acknowledgement of service or summary grounds of defence. The order granting permission was made in unusually forthright terms, with the judge stating: “It is difficult to see how the extension of the level of English to those who come to study English can reasonably be justified.” Although permission was stayed to allow the respondent to argue why it should not have been granted, the Secretary of State has now confirmed that permission is not opposed.”
They added:
“The claim is brought on a number of grounds. English UK are arguing that the provision in the Immigration Rules (para. 120(a) of Appendix A) which allows the UKBA to set minimum academic standards for Tier 4 students in sponsor guidance, as opposed to in the Rules themselves, is unlawful.”
The judge, Collins J noted, when granting permission:
“The use of guidance in circumstances where its effect is to render entry for students more difficult is arguably a misuse of the powers contained in the 1971 Act.”
The full Early Day Motion laid before Parliament by Stephen Lloyd MP on 2 June 2010 reads:
PROTECTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
Lloyd, Stephen
That this House is alarmed by the previous administration’s ruling of 10 March 2010 that raised detrimentally the entry criteria for foreign students wishing to study the English language in this country in an attempt to deter bogus students; notes that it was both a rushed and flawed alteration, including a requirement for students to already possess intermediate level English, which is equivalent to A level English, before being allowed to even study English in the UK; considers that it will discourage an estimated 100,000 legitimate international students from coming to the UK to study; further notes that the professional body, English UK, estimates that £400 million per annum and 3,400 jobs will be lost from the teaching sector and £1 billion from the university sector, who take around 46 per cent. of their international students from those who already study English in the UK; further considers that it will have a profound impact on the vital £17 million per annum which foreign students bring to the economy in Eastbourne; and calls on the Government and the new Immigration Minister to abolish this inexplicable legislation in order to protect the UK’s standing as a world leader in the area, noting that, if the Government does not rescind this legislation, other English-speaking countries will benefit while the UK’s vital home grown industry will suffer.
WELL, if the upcoming rule would enable the colleges to recieved thier license back soon, i think they should let it be.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0