§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on facilitating applications to British universities by foreign nationals. [142520]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 15 December 2000]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his speech at the London School of Economics on 18 June last year, we wish to encourage more students from overseas to study in he UK. The FCO, other Government Departments, devolved Administrations and the British Council have introduced a package of measures to this end. We are increasing the number of Chevening Scholarships available.
We are working with the Home Office to ensure that bona fide students obtain visas with minimum delay and on first arrival are normally granted permission to stay in the UK for the whole duration of their course. With the help of the Home Office and DfEE, restrictions on international students taking work during their time in the UK have been eased. A new UK Education Brand has been created, and underpins a marketing campaign overseas. All decisions on applications and admissions to British universities are taken by the universities themselves.
§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications from overseas citizens to British universities his Department has forwarded in the last 12 months. [142988]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 15 December 2000]: On behalf of the FCO, the British Council and the Association of Commonwealth Universities forward or place approximately 1,850 applications per year to British Universities under the Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes.
129WThe FCO does not keep a central record of other applications it forwards direct to British Universities.