§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances foreign language students on(a) part-time and (b) full-time English language courses will be required to pay the proposed surcharge; and if he will make a statement. [143839]
§ Beverley HughesNo decisions have yet been made about the level of the fees. The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is required to provide a range of fees for indicative purposes only. The upper limit of that range, £500, does not signify that the Government intends, as some newspapers suggested, to set fees at that level.
The enabling power is the first stage of a two-stage process. The second part of the process is to undertake a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and wider consultation with key stakeholders. Following this consultation, decisions regarding fee levels, scope and timing of introduction can then be made taking these views fully into account.
Any foreign language student, full or part-time, who currently pays a fee would be required to pay charges at whatever level they may be set.