To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1138W, on immigrations controls, how many sponsorship licences have been granted to (a) employers and (b) educational institutions since the inception of the points-based system. (302931)

[holding answer 30 November 2009]: The number of sponsor licences that have been granted to employers since the inception of the points-based system to 27 November 2009 is 13,475.

The number of sponsor licences that have been granted to educational institutions since the inception of the points-based system to 27 November 2009 is 3,065.

Figures for educational institutions are for those sponsors who have specified “Education” as the industry sector that best explains their organisation’s main economic activity, irrespective of PBS tier.

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.