Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Students: Temporary Visas for Dependants

Monday 27 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated that over 112,000 people have been allowed to enter the UK under safe and legal routes in the past 12 months.
  • Minister offered to review a specific case involving a student's child fleeing a conflict zone with the asking MP.
  • Minister indicated that the level of legal migration into the UK is considered too high and impacts public services and social cohesion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Immigration
Context

The question arises from the need to address a situation where a student's family member is in a conflict zone and needs assistance.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential merits of providing temporary visas to the dependants of visiting students and academics when the dependants are living in conflict zones?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

There are a number of routes in the immigration rules allowing dependants to join family members in the United Kingdom. Where possible, people seeking to flee conflict zones should use those existing routes. In the past 12 months, we have allowed over 112,000 people to arrive under safe and legal routes, including over 6,000 family reunion cases.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment of providing temporary visas for dependants in conflict zones was not directly addressed.

How: Where Possible, People Seeking To Flee Conflict Zones Should Use Those Existing Routes

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

A constituent on a student visa at St Andrews University has her daughter in Gaza who needs to be reunified.

Question

My constituent is on a student visa at St Andrews University. On 7 October, her five-year-old daughter was in northern Gaza staying with her grandmother. They have since had to flee south. We have had good engagement from the student policy team, but will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can reunify the family?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

I am very happy to look into the case with the hon. Lady. As a general rule, we believe migration should not be the first lever we pull in the event of humanitarian crises. We should be using the UK's diplomatic muscle, our overseas development aid, as the primary way in which the UK can have the greatest impact in the world, but there are always cases where we make exceptions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific meeting to discuss reunification was not committed to directly.

How: As A General Rule, We Believe Migration Should Not Be The First Lever We Pull In The Event Of Humanitarian Crises

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Jonathan Gullis
Immigration
Context

There is a need to address high net migration figures, particularly for those enrolled in short-term study programs.

Question

Last week's net migration figures were completely unacceptable to the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, which is why the New Conservatives have a 12-point plan that the Minister for Immigration could copy and paste. Will he extend the closure of the student dependant route to students enrolled on a one-year research master's degree?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

First, we believe that the level of legal migration into this country is far too high. That has very profound impacts on access to public services, the productivity of our economy, and the ability of the UK to be a socially cohesive and united country. That is why we need to take action. We have already announced a specific policy with respect to dependants, which comes into force at the beginning of next year. We think it will have a substantive impact on the levels of net migration, but, as the Prime Minister said, we are keeping all options under review and will take further action as required.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific extension to include one-year research master's degree students was not addressed directly.

How: We Have Already Announced A Specific Policy With Respect To Dependants, Which Comes Into Force At The Beginning Of Next Year

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)