Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
30th May 2012, 10:23
The government has rejected claims that a crackdown on immigration could harm British universities and cost the economy billions of pounds a year.
In a letter to the prime minister, nearly 70 university heads are warning that changes to student visas would drive bright applicants away.
They urge the government to take foreign students, who bring in £8bn a year, out of net immigration counts.
But ministers said the policy did not stop genuine students coming to the UK.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said the government was "determined to prevent the abuse of student visas as part of our plans to get net migration down to the tens of thousands."
"Students coming to the UK for over a year are not visitors", he said. "Numbers affect communities, public services and infrastructure."
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18259626)
In a letter to the prime minister, nearly 70 university heads are warning that changes to student visas would drive bright applicants away.
They urge the government to take foreign students, who bring in £8bn a year, out of net immigration counts.
But ministers said the policy did not stop genuine students coming to the UK.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said the government was "determined to prevent the abuse of student visas as part of our plans to get net migration down to the tens of thousands."
"Students coming to the UK for over a year are not visitors", he said. "Numbers affect communities, public services and infrastructure."
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18259626)