Educational Institutions: Registration

Damian Green
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many colleges and other educational establishments were (a) investigated and (b) subsequently removed from the Government Register of Educational Providers in relation to immigration-related considerations in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell
The Register of Education and Training Providers was established on 1 January 2005. Since that date, all colleges which want to recruit international students need to appear on the Register. The Home Office will not grant anyone leave to enter or remain in the UK unless he or she is studying at a provider on the Register. The operation of the Register therefore directly helps the Home Office tackle immigration abuse in the education sector.

Since 1 January 2005, 256 colleges on the Register of Education and Training Providers have been investigated by the Borders and Immigration Agency. Of these, 114 have been found to be in breach of the Immigration Rules, and therefore removed from the Register.