Immigration: £500m toll of migrant students' part-time work
UP to £500million a year of taxpayers’ cash could be saved from the welfare benefits bill by restricting the numbers of foreign students taking temporary jobs, a report said last night.
The cash is handed out in unemployment benefits to welfare claimants squeezed out of the jobs market by migrants coming to the UK from outside the EU on student visas, says the think-tank MigrationWatch UK.
The analysis was published ahead of the opening of an inquiry today by the Commons Home Affairs Committee into measures proposed by the Government to crack down on bogus foreign students.
MigrationWatch UK chairman Sir Andrew Green said: “It is neither economically justifiable for the taxpayer nor fair to British workers who have to compete for scarce jobs with people who have cheated the system to come here.”
Measures proposed to tighten the system include restricting courses available to overseas students, raising standards in the English language test and ensuring students return home at the end of their courses.
A Government consultation on its plans is due to close today.
Opponents argue the measures will drastically cut the numbers of overseas students coming to Britain, reducing income to universities and colleges.
Student leaders urged the Government to drop the curbs. And Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, the vice-chancellors’ umbrella group, said: “The proposals are damaging.”
