Extract from Queen's
Speech debate (Lords)
(Lab):..It is very concerning, therefore, that following
several reforms made to the immigration system, the UK’s higher
education sector as a whole has experienced two consecutive years
of falling overseas entrants: 2011-12 and 2012-13. This is not
regarded as a dramatic drop in enrolments, but this recent trend
challenges the levels of growth witnessed pre-2010. While demand
has continued to increase from countries such
as China, the number of Indian students
commencing courses in the UK has almost halved in two years. The
higher education sector as a whole now sources around one-eighth of
its income from international students’ tuition fees. Fluctuating
demand from prospective students overseas can therefore leave
institutions vulnerable or affect their ability to plan
strategically in the long term. Therefore, I ask Her Majesty’s
Government to recognise that international students are of real and
great importance to the UK’s higher education sector and to the
country regionally. Although there have been suggestions that a
more positive picture is emerging, it is key that an encouraging
approach is maintained and narrated to the global society which
demonstrates the values and commitment made by the UK to enhance
and develop further the huge opportunities available to young
people all over the world...
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Extracts from Queen's
Speech debate (Commons)
Dame (Meriden) (Con):
I shall oblige you, Mr Speaker, by falling within the limit. I
want to speak briefly about the way that the measures in the
Queen’s Speech will contribute to the economic success of the
west midlands, a region with a growth rate of more than 5% in the
past two years. In fact, the growth rate of the borough of
Solihull, containing my constituency, outstripped that of China
at more than 7%--it is certainly an example of what the
Chancellor called a fundamentally robust regional economy...
(Solihull)
(Con):...If you will indulge me for a moment, Mr
Speaker, I would like to make a brief dedication to my
predecessor, John Taylor, who sadly passed away during the
campaign. I am sure many Members of the House will have happy
memories of John, who was a thoroughly decent man and a very good
friend to me.
John and I would often talk about the economy, and about Solihull
and the growth we have seen there. That growth is not to be taken
for granted. Often, people suggest that Solihull is prosperous so
it can afford to pay more in tax, and that sort of thing, but the
reality is that Solihull is built on entrepreneurship. Since
2010, we have seen a 60% fall in unemployment, and in 2015 we had
a GDP growth rate faster than China’s...
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