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Baroness Neville-Jones
Type
House
Session
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Department
Member
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Neville-Jones, Baroness (14)
Legislative stage
Legislation
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 24 November (WA 344), why a GCSE or an International GCSE is not one of the ways in which they measure knowledge of English for immigration purposes; and in what ways the examinations fall short of...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 24 November (WA 344), why a GCSE or an International GCSE is not one of the ways in which they measure knowledge of English for immigration purposes; and in what ways the examinations fall short of...
Asked by
Lord Lucas
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 December 2010
The levels of English required for immigration routes are not comparable with GCSEs. For example, the A1 test for entry as a spouse or the life in the United Kingdom test for settlement are set at a lower level than GCSE. A person who has attained a GCSE in English should therefore be able to succeed in these tests. In addition, spouses must demonstrate speaking and listening English skills which might not be tested by all GCSEs. The life in the United Kingdom test for settlement also requires a person to demonstrate knowledge of life in the United Kingdom, which would not be covered in English GCSEs.
Subjects
Assessments; Immigration controls; Migrants; English language; GCSE; IGCSE
Date
7 December 2010
Reference
4602; 723 c41WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many candidates for immigration have a GCSE or International GCSE in English.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many candidates for immigration have a GCSE or International GCSE in English.
Asked by
Lord Lucas
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 December 2010
We do not hold statistics on the numbers of migrants who have a GCSE or International GCSE in English when they apply for or are granted immigration leave.
Subjects
Migrants; English language; GCSE
Date
1 December 2010
Reference
4603; 722 c463WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a pass at grade C or above in GCSE or International GCSE English is accepted for all immigration purposes as sufficient proof of English language ability.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a pass at grade C or above in GCSE or International GCSE English is accepted for all immigration purposes as sufficient proof of English language ability.
Asked by
Lord Lucas
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 November 2010
Having a GCSE or an International GCSE in English is not one of the ways in which we measure knowledge of English for immigration purposes.
Subjects
Assessments; Immigration controls; Migrants; English language; GCSE; IGCSE
Date
24 November 2010
Reference
3881; 722 c344WA
House
House of Lords
Lords debate on motion to disapprove the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm 7944) laid before the House on 1 October. Motion withdrawn. (Debated with Lords motion of regret that Her Majesty's Government have laid before the House Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 59, laid on 28 June; amd HC 96, laid on 15 July) in a way that limits direct Parliamentary scrutiny of the level of the immigration cap; and further regrets that the Government's cap policy in relation to highly skilled migrants will damage the UK economy).
Lords debate on motion to disapprove the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm 7944) laid before the House on 1 October. Motion withdrawn. (Debated with Lords motion of regret that Her Majesty's Government have laid before the House Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 59, laid on 28...
Lead member
Lord Avebury
Answering member
Baroness Neville-Jones
Department
Home Office
Type
Debates
Subjects
Assessments; Asylum; Business; Civil partners; European Convention on Human Rights; Immigration controls; Judgements; English language; Naturalisation; Parliamentary scrutiny; Married people; Universities; Refugees; Supreme Court; Skilled workers; Visas; Refugee Convention; UK Border Agency
Date
25 October 2010
Reference
721 c1092-116
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I am sure that the whole House would endorse what the noble Lord said about the skill with which the miners in Chile are being rescued from what would otherwise have been a terrible fate. As to the skill with which government departments are to operate on overseas students, we have put in place a number of measures which indeed include co-ordination between individuals in the UK Border Agency and Foreign Office posts. The system is designed to do two things. One is to monitor the conduct of sponsoring institutions so that they do their duty by ensuring that students who are registered with them actually turn up. The other is to ensure that the students actually come; and if they do not come, they will be penalised. If the institutions fail to ensure that their students turn up and do not correct that, they will have their licences taken away.
I am sure that the whole House would endorse what the noble Lord said about the skill with which the miners in Chile are being rescued from what would otherwise have been a terrible fate. As to the skill with which government departments are to operate on overseas students, we have put in place a number of measures which indeed include co-ordination between individuals in the UK Border Agency and Foreign Office posts. The system is designed to do two things. One is to monitor the conduct of sponsoring institutions so that they do their duty by ensuring that students who are registered with them actually turn up. The other is to ensure that the students actually come; and if they do not come, they will be penalised. If the institutions fail to ensure that their students turn up and do not correct that, they will have their licences taken away.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Naseby
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, that is a very encouraging Answer, because I have asked questions in this broad field at least four times, and this is the first time that we have heard a positive Answer about progress, compared with the shambles whereby something like 20 per cent of overseas students are still here five years after graduating. Does my noble friend recognise, like those of us who watched the television this morning, that the wonderful rescue taking place in Chile has been achieved by sheer skill, organisation, professionalism and true leadership? Will she ensure that the Foreign Office, the UK Border Agency and the home agencies involved, for once, co-ordinate their activities so that genuine students can come to genuine universities and genuine colleges?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c509
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, if you are to be required to have an English language qualification before you turn up, that obviously has to have been acquired somewhere else. A register has been built up of approved institutions, which have to demonstrate that they are both able and capable of providing the necessary qualification. They have to have a trading presence in this country and a reputation established independently of their application to government. If that is done, it is hoped that the qualifications will prove genuine. However, there is also monitoring of those institutions, whereby people go along and inspect whether they are still providing courses of the right level and whether the students are attending.
My Lords, if you are to be required to have an English language qualification before you turn up, that obviously has to have been acquired somewhere else. A register has been built up of approved institutions, which have to demonstrate that they are both able and capable of providing the necessary qualification. They have to have a trading presence in this country and a reputation established independently of their application to government. If that is done, it is hoped that the qualifications will prove genuine. However, there is also monitoring of those institutions, whereby people go along and inspect whether they are still providing courses of the right level and whether the students are attending.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Baroness O'Neill of Bengarve
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Does the Minister consider that adequate safeguards are in place to detect impersonation in oral examinations by those who present themselves at the borders with supposed qualifications? If so, what are they?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c510
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Indeed, and no part of the Government’s policy is aimed at doing anything other than enabling genuine language schools to offer genuine language teaching to genuine students—one of the points made earlier by my noble friend. The English language qualification for those courses is lower because it is designed to enable people either to do a foundation course or to learn basic English, so different rules apply. On the other hand, we intend those students to actually be in genuine institutions.
Indeed, and no part of the Government’s policy is aimed at doing anything other than enabling genuine language schools to offer genuine language teaching to genuine students—one of the points made earlier by my noble friend. The English language qualification for those courses is lower because it is designed to enable people either to do a foundation course or to learn basic English, so different rules apply. On the other hand, we intend those students to actually be in genuine institutions.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Baroness Sharp of Guildford
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, what is the position of language schools, which are extremely important to some seaside towns?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c510
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the previous Government certainly began to put measures in place. This Government have built on those measures, very much strengthened them and are still evaluating whether we have strong enough measures in place. If we want to take further measures, we shall announce them before the end of the year. As to the numbers, 220 institutions have been suspended since the tier-4 system put in place by this Government took effect; 53 of those are permanent suspensions and 78 are still under evaluation. Real measures are being taken—with teeth.
My Lords, the previous Government certainly began to put measures in place. This Government have built on those measures, very much strengthened them and are still evaluating whether we have strong enough measures in place. If we want to take further measures, we shall announce them before the end of the year. As to the numbers, 220 institutions have been suspended since the tier-4 system put in place by this Government took effect; 53 of those are permanent suspensions and 78 are still under evaluation. Real measures are being taken—with teeth.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does the noble Baroness acknowledge, contrary to the point of view put by the questioner, that in fact the previous Government took action against unscrupulous course providers through the sponsor licensing system? Can she say how many education providers were closed as a result of those actions?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c510
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I think that this Question is about English language qualifications for students arriving in this country. I found it difficult to follow the noble Lord’s logic. Many of the institutions that were operating without either the necessary qualifications or a licence were clearly being allowed to do so under the previous Government. I have said that we have suspended some of the institutions that were accredited, and I shall look at whether others have fallen out of the system. However, we are certainly applying extremely rigorous standards to the 2,000 or so institutions that are accredited as things stand at the moment.
My Lords, I think that this Question is about English language qualifications for students arriving in this country. I found it difficult to follow the noble Lord’s logic. Many of the institutions that were operating without either the necessary qualifications or a licence were clearly being allowed to do so under the previous Government. I have said that we have suspended some of the institutions that were accredited, and I shall look at whether others have fallen out of the system. However, we are certainly applying extremely rigorous standards to the 2,000 or so institutions that are accredited as things stand at the moment.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Tomlinson
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
I go back to the question asked by my noble friend Lord Hunt about the number of institutions that are no longer in business compared with when the previous Government introduced the review that led to the points-based system. Will the Minister agree with me if I suggest that 2,000 colleges did not get the necessary level of accreditation ever to be put on the register, and that the number that she gave was for institutions that were accredited but have since been knocked off the register? Therefore, the total number of institutions that are not providing higher education services where they were previously is around 2,300. Does she further agree that it is imperative for the financial success of higher education that overseas students come to our higher education institutions, to part-mitigate the cuts that have been made in higher education and will be made in the spending review next week?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c510-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, in order to enforce the rule that students must have an intermediate level of English when applying to study in the UK, the UK Border Agency will refuse applications in cases where students who are required to have an English language test set by an approved provider cannot present the verifiable evidence of having so achieved that qualification. These rules came into effect on 12 August.
My Lords, in order to enforce the rule that students must have an intermediate level of English when applying to study in the UK, the UK Border Agency will refuse applications in cases where students who are required to have an English language test set by an approved provider cannot present the verifiable evidence of having so achieved that qualification. These rules came into effect on 12 August.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Naseby
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to enforce the rules that require students coming to the United Kingdom for study to have an intermediate, rather than elementary, level of English.
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c509
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Je le veux bien. Yes, of course.
Je le veux bien. Yes, of course.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Jay of Ewelme
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Does the Minister, who is herself fluent in French and German, agree that it is equally important that English students learn foreign languages?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c511
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
The standards that have to be met for competence in English must comply with a European framework regulation, so a student coming here to do an advanced course has to meet that European level of qualification.
The standards that have to be met for competence in English must comply with a European framework regulation, so a student coming here to do an advanced course has to meet that European level of qualification.
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Dholakia
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, the points-based system does not apply to those who come from the European Community. What is being done to measure their competence in English?
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c511
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to enforce the rules that require students coming to the United Kingdom for study to have an intermediate, rather than elementary, level of English.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to enforce the rules that require students coming to the United Kingdom for study to have an intermediate, rather than elementary, level of English.
Asked by
Lord Naseby
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Neville-Jones
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
13 October 2010
Answered on
13 October 2010
My Lords, in order to enforce the rule that students must have an intermediate level of English when applying to study in the UK, the UK Border Agency will refuse applications in cases where students who are required to have an English language test set by an approved provider cannot present the verifiable evidence of having so achieved that qualification. These rules came into effect on 12 August.
Subjects
Immigration controls; English language; Overseas students
Date
13 October 2010
Reference
721 c509
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Lords debate on Queen's speech (fourth day) on home, legal and constitutional affairs.
Lords debate on Queen's speech (fourth day) on home, legal and constitutional affairs.
Lead member
Lord West of Spithead
Answering member
Baroness Neville-Jones
Department
Home Office; Ministry of Justice
Type
Queen's speech debates
Procedure
Addresses to the Crown
Subjects
Data protection; Criminal proceedings; Databases; Crime prevention; Crime; Alcoholic drinks; British nationality; Coroners; Autobiography; British constitution; Immigration controls; English language; Offenders; Protection; Police; Powers; Proceeds of crime; Misuse; Prostitution; Sentencing; Terrorism; Surveillance; Telecommunications; Witnesses; Sex establishments; Information Commissioner's Office; UK Border Agency
Date
9 December 2008
Reference
706 c273-370
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords