§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) teachers and (b) teaching professionals were awarded work permits for UK recruitment during (a) 2001, (b) 2000 and (c) 1999. [52972]
§ Angela EagleWork Permits (UK) do not differentiate between teachers and teaching professionals.
The numbers of work permits issued for teachers and teaching professionals are:
Number 1999 696 2000 1,444 2001 5,888
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Work Permit Initiative will ensure that agencies observe the requirement to secure contracts of employment for work permit applicants; what checks Work Permits UK will have in place to ensure that a contract of employment exists; and for what reason(a) overseas teachers will require a contract of employment and (b) other agency staff are supplied on a contract-for-services basis. [53522]
§ Angela EagleWork Permits(UK) require any employer or agency acting as the employer to sign the "Employer's Declaration" on the work permit application form, which binds them to the criteria of the work permit arrangements. In this way, teacher agencies are treated in the same way as any other United Kingdom employer in ensuring that a contract of employment for the individual is in place.
Details of employment contracts between an individual and their employer can be requested and checked upon if abuse of the work permit arrangements are suspected.
A contract of employment is required as an overseas teacher should be afforded the same terms and conditions of employment as those of a resident teacher. Anyone working on a contract-for-services basis is not regarded as being "employed" under the work permit arrangements, rather they are regarded as being "self-employed". For this reason, an agency recruiting an individual who is working solely on a contract-for-services basis would not be granted a work permit.