Britannia Radio

Press Releases

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Net Migration Figure for 2011
30 August, 2012

Commenting on today's net migration figure for 2011, Sir Andrew Green said :

“These figures are a disappointment. Net migration remains far too high. Today’s numbers underline the huge difficulty of getting immigration back under control after thirteen years of chaos. The government is on the right track and numbers will come down in future years. Meanwhile, the government must ensure that they pursue the national interest ahead of vested interests. They now need a blitz on bogus students and much tougher action on enforcement and removal. For too many years we have had only a token effort at tackling illegal immigration.”

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Are Foreign Students Worth £12 Billion a Year? 
30 August, 2012

The NUS are now claiming a figure of £12.5 billion as the benefit of foreign students. The universities lobby has previously bandied about the figure of £8 billion. The implication is that this valuable sector of our economy is somehow being put at risk as a result of tightening the immigration regulations for foreign students.

That figure was based on 2008/9 but a study by Migration Watch UK released todayshows that the true level of benefit to the UK’s foreign exchange earnings in that year was more like £4.3 billion. This is just over 1% of the total – and only a small part of this would be at risk from tightening up the immigration system. Adjusting for inflation and the increase in the number of students gives a figure of £5.76 billion for 2010/11.

The study found that the BIS report which produced the original figure of £8 billion is very misleading in this context because:

- It is an assessment of the value of the entire sector – not just of foreign students.
- It included EU students who, of course, are not subject to immigration policy
- and it ignored the fact that many international students work part time to cover their living costs.

The Migration Watch UK report also looked at claims that the sector will be “worth” £17 billion in 2025. This, however, depends on a still further massive increase in student numbers that will, because of the proportion that stay on, seriously undermine the government’s immigration policy.

Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said “Some inflated figures have been circulated about the economic value of foreign students. The number of student immigrants has increased by 59% since the new Points Based System was introduced and there is crystal clear evidence of substantial abuse. The government are absolutely right to crack down on this. Looking ahead, the financial interests of the universities cannot be allowed to destroy the government’s immigration objectives which are so widely supported by the public”.

Notes to Editors: Data from the International Passenger Survey shows that in 2008 126,000 students were recorded as coming to the UK for a year or more for the purposes of study. In the year ending September 2011 this has risen to 201,000.

A selection of recent media reports

Anger over foreign students' future
More than 2,000 students could face ejection from the country after the Government revoked London Metropolitan Universit
Guardian.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Immigration figures out by up to 35,000, say Oxford analysts
The latest migration statistics figures released by the Office for National Statistics may b
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Population still growing by 216,000 a year despite student visa cuts
Britain's population is still growing by more than 200,000 people a year despite a sharp cut
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Sir Andrew Green: There is little sign of progress towards the government's migration pledge
Sir Andrew Green is Chairman of Migrationwatch UK I would expect C
Conservative Home (30-Aug-2012)

Labour: 'Actions not empty promises on immigration'
Chris Bryant, shadow immigration minister has said that the Home Secretary may be "ramping up her rhetori
ITV.com (30-Aug-2012)

Record number of babies born to foreign-born mothers
Record numbers of babies were born to foreign mothers last year, while fewer British women gave birth.
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Metropolitan no longer cosmopolitan
INTERNATIONAL students at London Metropolitan Business School (LMBS) have been left in limbo after the UK Border Agency w
The Economist (30-Aug-2012)

Immigration figures benefiting from strong measures, says Damian Green - video
The immigration minister, Damian Green, says recent figures show the gover
Guardian.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Analysis: London Met's foreign students
Why has London Metropolitan University been banned from accepting foreign students from outside of the European Unio
BBC - News Cambridgeshire (30-Aug-2012)

London Met: A history of controversy
London Metropolitan University has previously hit the headlines for reasons ranging from a proposed alcohol ban to the over
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Government immigration policies struggle to make much impact
Net migration to the UK fell last year by nearly 36,000 despite evidence that government po
London Evening Standard (30-Aug-2012)

Migration Watch UK: 'Government right to crack down on visas'
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the campaign group Migration Watch UK has said that "inflated figures
ITV.com (30-Aug-2012)

Graphic: Net migration falls as new student visas drop by 20 per cent
Net migration to the UK decreased in 2011 compared to the previous year as fewer student v
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

Nigerian man who used fake ID to obtain work in Epping High Street's Tesco store jailed for six months
A NIGERIAN man who used a phony identity card to land a job in a Hig
East London and West Essex Guardian (30-Aug-2012)

London Met banned from issuing visas to foreign students
More than 2,000 international students are facing deportation after London Metropolitan University
Telegraph.co.uk (30-Aug-2012)

A quarter of babies born in hospital in England and Wales has a foreign mother - and it's costing the NHS a fortune
A record one in four of all babies born in England and Wales
Mail Online (30-Aug-2012)

Immigration minister: London Met 'seriously breached' visa licence
The London Metropolitan University had "seriously breached" their visa licence
ITV.com (30-Aug-2012)

University in Border Agency row
A university has warned that many of its courses may face closure if it is forbidden to teach and recruit foreign students. London
The Independent (30-Aug-2012)

Ban for London Met would tarnish all of sector, warns v-c
Malcolm Gillies rounds on 'false' reports of loss of licence to sponsor visa students. Jack Grove wr
Times Higher Education (30-Aug-2012)