To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the results of the joint review of student visas by his Department and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to be published. (314673)

The outcome of the review of Tier 4, announced by the Prime Minister on 12 November 2009, were published on Wednesday 10 February 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of increasing the minimum level at which non-EU students may come to the UK for study from National Qualifications Framework Level 3 to Level 4. (316912)

The Secretary of State for the Home Department’s written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010 provides full details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4, the student route of the points based system. We will be publishing a full impact assessment on the review in line with implementation.

We are not increasing the minimum level at which non-EU students may come to the UK for study from National Qualifications Framework level 3 to level 4, however, only education providers that qualify as Highly Trusted Sponsors will be able to offer courses at level three to international students.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dependants of those with a (a) student visa and (b) student visa relating to a course lasting less than six months entered the UK in 2008. (317155)

The available statistics show that 20,300 “dependants of students” (excluding EEA and Swiss nationals) were given leave to enter the United Kingdom, in 2008.

It is not possible to determine, from the systems used to produce these statistics on those given leave to enter the UK, how many of those admitted as “dependants of students” were dependants of students on a course lasting less than six months.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department’s written statement of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 58WS contains details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4, and this statement includes further details of the restrictions we are placing on the dependants of certain students.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely effects on student visitors of implementing the changes proposed in the recent review of tier 4 of the points-based immigration system. (317167)

As a result of the changes we are implementing following the review of tier 4, the student tier of the points based system, we expect there to be an increase in the number of student visitor applications, as genuine students wishing to follow lower level courses no longer permitted under tier 4 will be permitted to use the student visitor route instead.

The student visitor category is for short-term, temporary visitors to the UK who intend to complete a course of study in the UK within six months. In order to be eligible, all those seeking entry under this category must have a place on a course of study offered by an education provider which either has a tier 4 sponsor licence, or which is subject to public inspection, or which is accredited by one of the UK Border Agency’s approved accreditation bodies.

Student visitors cannot follow a course that contains a work placement, and they are prohibited from taking employment in the UK.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department’s written statement of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 58WS contains details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4.