§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits were issued to foreign students during each of the last five years; upon what basis the decision is made as to whether or not a work permit is to be issued; and what is the maximum period specified in such permits.
§ Mr. Jim LesterIn 1979 and in 1978, 1,051 and 804 overseas students respectively were given permission for the first time to take employment during their vacations or in their spare time. The numbers for earlier years and the numbers of students who were given permission to change employment cannot be obtained other than at disproportionate cost.
Permission is given to a student for a specific job only when there is no suitable resident labour available for it, when the wages and conditions being offered to him are not less favourable than those obtaining in the area for similar work and when the institution at which he is studying has confirmed that the particular employment will not interfere with his studies.
The maximum period authorised will vary from case to case and will normally be either the period for which the employer requires him or the period of the student's vacation, but in all cases will be no longer than the period of stay in this country as a student approved by the Home Office.