Aug242017

News story: Government to commission assessment of international students

HM Government

The government will today commission its independent advisers on migration to complete a detailed assessment of the social and economic impact of international students in the UK.

The commission is part of a series of publications coming out today which will feed into a robust and comprehensive evidence base on the impact of international students.

Alongside the commission, the UK’s first publication of exit checks data will provide a comprehensive account of the compliance of international students. In addition, the Office of National Statistics is releasing a report as part of its ongoing programme of work looking at the impact of students on net migration.

Taking action

The government has been clear that it is committed to keeping the doors open to genuine students, while at the same time taking action to crack down on immigration abuse from poor quality institutions that were damaging the UK’s reputation as a provider of world-leading education. Since 2010, this has included taking away the ability of more than 900 – often bogus or low quality – colleges to bring in international students.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will be asked to examine the impact both EU and non-EU students have on the labour market and economy whilst in the UK.

Issues the MAC will be asked to consider will include:

  • the impact of tuition fees and other spending by international students on the national, regional, and local economy and on the education sector
  • the role students play in contributing to local economic growth
  • the impact their recruitment has on the provision and quality of education provided to domestic students

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

There is no limit to the number of genuine international students who can come to the UK to study and the fact that we remain the second most popular global destination for those seeking higher education is something to be proud of.

We understand how important students from around the world are to our higher education sector, which is a key export for our country, and that’s why we want to have a robust and independent evidence base of their value and the impact they have.

The UK is the second most popular destination for international students, with 4 UK universities in the world’s top 10, 16 in the top 100 and international student satisfaction in the UK at 91 per cent for undergraduates.

Last year the UK saw an increase of 6 per cent in visa applications for Russell Group universities while visa applications sponsored by universities are 17 per cent higher than they were in 2010.

This has driven in part by an effective and user-friendly visa system which sees 99 per cent of entry clearance applications decided within the target of 15 days and the grant rate for Tier 4 (General) visa entry clearance applications having increased every year since 2010, with 96 per cent of applications granted in 2016.

Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said:

We have always been clear that our commitment to reducing net migration to sustainable levels does not detract from our determination to attract international students from around the world.

Since 2010 we have clamped down on abuse, while increasing the number of genuine students that come to the UK from around the world.

The MAC, which comprises of a group of internationally recognised experts in their field, is responsible for providing transparent, independent and evidence-based advice to the government on migration issues. They have been asked to report back by September 2018.

Aug242017

News story: ‘Momentum must be maintained’ as pound coin changeover enters final weeks

HM Government

On a visit today (24 August) to one of the UK’s largest coin storage facilities, Vaultex UK Ltd, in Dagenham, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Jones MP, thanked businesses for their efforts so far in the transition, but urged them to maintain momentum.

Citing findings from the cash centres, the minister warned that businesses must be vigilant when returning coins to centres such as the Dagenham storage facility for sorting. Currently half of the £1 coins being returned are the new 12-sided £1 coin – not the soon-to-be discontinued old one. This confusion slows the process down by removing new pound coins from entering circulation and keeping the old round pounds in our tills and purses.

Speaking at the coin centre, Mr Jones said:

There has been a fantastic effort from both the public and businesses in returning more than 1 billion old round pounds, and I thank everybody involved in this process so far. But there is still more to do before the October 15 deadline.

Businesses must remain vigilant when returning coins and ensure old and new coins are organised in separate packaging to make the sorting process quicker and easier.

We also want cashiers and shopkeepers working at till points, who are truly on the front line of the changeover, to play their part to ensure only new pound coins are given to shoppers in their change.

The government has been working hard with businesses over the last three years to help make the changeover as smooth as possible. Key to this has been reminding business to check all types of equipment that may still be holding old coins alongside regular tills and cash drawers.

Aug242017

Radio interview with Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek, KIISFM 106.5

Australia

DAVE HUGHES:

We’ve got the Prime Minister on with us, Kate, Good afternoon Mr Turnbull.

PRIME MINISTER:

Hey, how are you? Great to be with you.

KATE LANGBROEK:

That introduction you did just made it sound like you’re a sketch character but you’re not – you genuinely are the Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER:

The very one.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Yes.

PRIME MINISTER:

It’s good to be with you and all of your listeners too.

DAVE HUGHES:

You must be annoyed that there is a sketch character out there who is doing a lot of your work? Is that annoying Malcolm?

PRIME MINISTER:

No, it’s very flattering, it’s very flattering.

(Laughter)

KATE LANGBROEK:

Well you are very impersonatable and particularly when you talk about Lucy.

PRIME MINISTER:

When I talk about Lucy? Well, I love Lucy.

(Laughter)

KATE LANGBROEK:

You do love Lucy! And it is very attractive – a man who loves his wife.

DAVE HUGHES:

I’m worried now. I’m worried that it’s not really the Prime Minister. Is it definitely the Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER:

It definitely is but you know, look, it is great to be on your show and it is good to have the opportunity.

DAVE HUGHES:

What is our show called, Mr Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, it’s Hughesy and Kate isn’t it?

(Laughter)

KATE LANGBROEK:

Did you just have an aide next to you who-

PRIME MINISTER:

No, no – I pick these things up. The only thing I don’t want to talk about is this vampire facial stuff.

DAVE HUGHES:

Oh god, he’s done his research.

PRIME MINISTER:

That sounds more gory than Game of Thrones.

KATE LANGBROEK:

More gory than a session in Parliament? Which is a blood sport.

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, it is definitely more gory than that. And more shocking than a frozen dragon being dragged out of a frozen lake and brought back to life by the Night King.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Are you a Game of Thrones fan?

DAVE HUGHES:

Yeah, that’s the last episode.

KATE LANGBROEK:

A bit of GOT!

DAVE HUGHES:

How do you find time? You actually – now be honest Malcolm – do you find time to watch that show or are you just being given information about the show?

PRIME MINISTER:

No, no – actually, I like Game of Thrones – I do. I mean it is very confronting at times.

KATE LANGBROEK:

It’s confronting!

(Laughter)

PRIME MINISTER:

It is! Look, you know, when you think about it –

DAVE HUGHES:

Do you fast-forward through the nude scenes?

(Laughter)

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, you know at my age I can handle them alright.

DAVE HUGHES:

Oh, you’ve still got it Malcolm!

KATE LANGBROEK:

What does Lucy do? Do you watch it together?

PRIME MINISTER:

Lucy is not a great fan of Game of Thrones to be honest.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Right.

PRIME MINISTER:

But she dips in and out of it but she’s not as – my absolutely favourite book that I read again and again, literally, probably, more than a dozen times I would think when I was a kid was Lord of the Rings. And so, I have always loved the sword and sorcerer type genre.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Right, yes.

PRIME MINISTER:

And of course Lord of the Rings was basically where it all started. All of this stuff has spun off from that.

DAVE HUGHES:

But Malcolm, can I ask, if you’re watching Game of Thrones alone and then as a really racy scene comes on and then Lucy walks in – is it a bit weird or not?

(Laughter)

PRIME MINISTER:

Now, maybe we should get onto vampire facials.

(Laughter)

KATE LANGBROEK:

Alright, now you wanted –

PRIME MINISTER:

Or you’ll trick me. You’ll ask me whether I’m ‘Netflix and chilling’.

(Laughter)

KATE LANGBROEK:

Alright – we know you can’t be tricked.

PRIME MINISTER:

Yeah, I dunno. I am sure you’re very tricky.

DAVE HUGHES:

Is it really him?

KATE LANGBROEK:

It is him! Now, Mr Turnbull-

PRIME MINISTER:

Yes?

KATE LANGBROEK:

Now today you’ve been, this is very interesting because this is like a big policy thing – drug testing for-

PRIME MINISTER:

It is. This is about the drug testing. It is a very big deal.

KATE LANGBROEK:

People who receive the dole.

PRIME MINISTER:

Yep.

DAVE HUGHES:

5,000 are going to be tested?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well it is a trial. Look, I know there have been some people who have said how do you know it will work? Well, if we knew it would work we’d do it nationally and we wouldn’t be doing a trial. I mean, people always want governments to be innovative, to try new things.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Yes, true. And people are sick of ‘crackheads’.

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, look, people don’t want people on welfare to be spending their welfare dollars on drugs.

KATE LANGBROEK:

However-

PRIME MINISTER:

And equally – just let me make this point – if you love somebody and you care for them, you don’t want them doing drugs and you certainly don’t want people on welfare doing drugs because if, this is people on Newstart and so forth, because that’s going to stop them getting a job, right?

DAVE HUGHES:

That’s true.

PRIME MINISTER:

So the whole objective is to get them off welfare and into a job and so if they’re doing drugs, then you want to stop them doing it. So I think this is a very, look, this is a trial – it’ll be 5,000 people that will go through this trial, we’ll see how it works. If it successful, we hope it is, then we could do more of it.

And, you know, if you can get people off drugs and into a job, it’s a great thing.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Marijuana seems a bit unfair. I understand ice, ecstasy-

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, it’s a bit illegal however. You may say it’s a bit unfair but it’s also quite a bit illegal.

DAVE HUGHES:

Yeah, but I mean, well its not very illegal.

KATE LANGBROEK:

It’s not very illegal. Its slightly illegal. And do you know what? Really, probably, there’s only two more years illegality in it.

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, look, I wouldn’t agree with you on that but – it has very addictive qualities-

KATE LANGBROEK:

Of course, of course.

PRIME MINISTER:

And it obviously is a major issue, perhaps not with the prominence that ice has nowadays.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Can I just ask you this?

PRIME MINISTER:

Yep. 

KATE LANGBROEK:

For instance, if you test positive to ice – what happens then?

PRIME MINISTER:

What will happen then is you will go onto a – you will get your welfare payment, 80 per cent of it will be put onto what is called a basics card which means it can only be spent on necessities. So, you know – food, rent, clothing that sort of thing but it can’t be spent-

KATE LANGBROEK:

Right.

PRIME MINISTER:

You’re not getting it in cash, in other words.

DAVE HUGHES:

And Malcolm would you be happy – I think that’s reasonable.

PRIME MINISTER:

So basically, the aim is to reduce the amount of cash.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Yes.

DAVE HUGHES:

Yes

PRIME MINISTER:

And quite a few people volunteer to go onto these income management schemes, or this basics card. It is very useful for some people who have difficultly managing their income in these, that are clients of the Centrelink.

DAVE HUGHES:

Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER:

But frankly this is a very important trial dealing with a very important, very significant social problem.

DAVE HUGHES:

Fair enough, yep.

PRIME MINISTER:

And we want people to get off drugs and into jobs. That’s the goal.

DAVE HUGHES:

Malcolm, would you be happy for MP’s to be drug tested?

PRIME MINISTER:

I know people have often asked that. It wouldn’t trouble me, but I don’t think there’s a lot of demand for it.

KATE LANGBROEK:

How do you know?

DAVE HUGHES:

Yeah, I mean, I imagine if you’re being drug tested when you’re on Centrelink and you-

KATE LANGBROEK:

Yeah and you’re a recipient of public money.

DAVE HUGHES:

You’d go: ‘Well why can’t MP’s be drug tested?’

PRIME MINISTER:

Well again, it isn’t-

KATE LANGBROEK:

Who would you start with Malcolm?

(Laughter)

PRIME MINISTER:

Alright well you are, you’re inviting me to make some nominations. Look, I don’t think that’s – that’s never been regarded as an issue in Parliament-

KATE LANGBROEK:

No, not by the people who pass the laws.

DAVE HUGHES:

And before we let you go, and you’ve got to go I know – can we just say – you want everyone to vote, well you want everyone to vote ‘yes’ in the marriage postal vote don’t you?

PRIME MINISTER:

Yeah, well Lucy and I are voting ‘yes’. And we absolutely are voting ‘yes’ and I encourage others to do so. But above all I encourage everyone to vote.

DAVE HUGHES:

Yep.

PRIME MINISTER:

And, look, again I respect the views of those who differ from us, who want to vote ‘no’ – I respect their views, I’m sure they respect mine. But the good thing is we’re giving everybody a say. But Lucy and I will be voting ‘yes’.

DAVE HUGHES:

And if it gets over 50 per cent it will become the law of the land?

PRIME MINISTER:

In my view yes, it will sail through the Parliament. We will facilitate a Private Members Bill, but there are quite a few people in the Parliament who will vote ‘no’ in the postal vote but who have said that if the people say yes they will nonetheless vote ‘yes’ for the Bill.

DAVE HUGHES:

That’s good.

PRIME MINISTER:

If the postal vote is carried it will sail through the Parliament. There’s nothing more certain than that.

DAVE HUGHES:

Great. Fantastic.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Mr Turnbull, I have enjoyed speaking to you so much more than I thought I was going to.

DAVE HUGHES:

Yes, Malcolm – a breath of fresh air!

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, thank you Kate – that’s great.

KATE LANGBROEK:

I want to talk to you about a lot of other things but we can’t.

PRIME MINISTER:

I’m very touched, that’s very kind of you.

DAVE HUGHES:

He’s loosened up. I think you’ve loosened up.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Well no he’s direct, its good.

DAVE HUGHES:

He’s loosened up, alright.

KATE LANGBROEK:

Thanks Mr Turnbull. I’d like to talk to him again at some point, thank you say hi to Lucy.

[ENDS]

Aug242017

Consultation outcome: Salmon fisheries in England and on the Border Esk

DEFRA

Updated: Published Managing Salmon Fisheries in England and on the Border Esk – Summary of initial consultation responses.

The Environment Agency want to understand how they can better manage salmon fisheries in England and on the Border Esk. The outcome of this consultation could affect people whose livelihoods and interests depend on salmon.

This is a chance to give your views on how salmon fisheries are managed and help shape the future of salmon stocks in England.

The responses from this consultation will help develop a better way to protect salmon stocks.

If the best way to protect salmon stocks includes new byelaws or Net Limitation Orders, the Environment Agency will advertise and consult on these so you can make further comments.

Aug242017

Press release: HMRC reminds parents to update their children’s educational details

HM Government

As exams results are revealed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, HMRC are urging parents to inform them if any of their children are aged 16+ and continuing in full-time education or are undertaking an apprenticeship otherwise their payments will stop. Alternatively, if a young person leaves education or training – for example to start full-time work or because their course has ended – claimants must report this change straight away to prevent the build-up of overpayments which they will have to pay back.

Parents can use their Personal Tax Account (PTA) to update both their Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit information online in a matter of minutes; it’s quick and easy, and more than 12 million customers have registered for the PTA so far.

Angela MacDonald, Director General of Customer Services, said:

Congratulations to all students getting their results today. Once parents or guardians know what their child has decided to do it’s really important they let us know as soon as possible, so they continue to get the right benefits and credits.

This can be done quickly and simply using the Personal Tax Account, which is available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. That means that parents can let us know their child’s education status, at a time that suits them ahead of the 31 August deadline.

  1. Customers can access their Personal Tax Account on any device – PC, tablet or smartphone. It is secure and takes just a few minutes to get started. Those doing it for the first time will need:

    • their National Insurance number
    • either a recent payslip or P60 (a passport can be used if you don’t have these)
    • a phone to receive a security access code.

  2. There are three simple steps for customers to get started:

    • Go to gov.uk/personal-tax-account and click ‘start now’.
    • Set up a Government Gateway account (if not already held) by answering a few simple questions – this is where a payslip or P60 is needed. A security access code will then be sent to the customer’s phone.
    • Enter the access code on their phone when prompted, which will take them straight to their account.

  3. People can continue to claim for teenagers aged between the ages of 16 and 19 years old if they are in qualifying full-time education or training. Online information about what counts as education and training can be found on GOV.UK.

  4. Young people must be accepted onto qualifying education or training before their 19th birthday to be eligible. Child Tax Credit claimants need to confirm their continued eligibility annually for 16, 18 and 19 year olds.

  5. Those unable to access the internet can also inform HMRC of changes on the phone by calling 0300 200 3100 or sending a letter to: Child Tax Credits: Tax Credits Office, Preston, PR1 4AT and/or Child Benefit: Child Benefit Office, PO Box 1, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE88 1AA.

  6. Claimants could be given a penalty for failing to report a change, or even prosecuted for benefit fraud if they are found to have deliberately claimed money they were not entitled to.

  7. If customers need help defining what counts as education, the government’s website contains information to help them. Some of the educational options available to 16 year olds include GCSEs, A/AS levels, national diplomas and NVQs up to level 3, as well as apprenticeships or traineeships. The qualifying education level is non-advanced, so studying for a degree at university or a BTEC Higher National Certificate does not count.

  8. HMRC’s Flickr channel can be found here

  9. Follow HMRC’s press office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

Patrick O’Brien
Tel: 03000 585 024 Email: patrick.obrien@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Adrian Hallchurch Tel: 03000 585 020 Email: adrian.hallchurch@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Out of hours Tel: 07860 359544