http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/8359685/Student-job-route-may-be-saved.html
Student job route may be saved
A controversial scheme that allows foreign graduates to stay in the UK for two years to look for work could be saved in a Coalition climb-down, the universities minister signalled yesterday.
Tom Whitehead
By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor 7:00AM GMT 04 Mar 2011
David Willetts said the Government was considering a “range of options” over the future of the post study work route, which allows tens of thousands of foreign students stay after their studies every year.
The comments are in stark contrast to those of Damian Green, the immigration minister, who last month attacked the “unfettered access” overseas students have to the jobs market.
A consultation launched by him on the student visa regime proposed scrapping the route altogether.
Some 38,000 foreign students took advantage of it in 2009 alone, along with almost 8,000 dependants.
But giving evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Willetts suggested the route may now be saved but reformed.
“There may be ways we can tighten it up and make sure it is not abused by becoming a route to settlement. It is part of a fuzzy boundary we are investigating,” he said.
“There are a whole range of options between complete closure of the route and the status quo and we are discussing with the Home Office what those options might be.”
He said some universities fear scrapping the route will make them less competitive with other countries in attracting students.
The comments will further fuel suggestions there is a rift in Government over the proposed crackdown on students.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "This Government wants to ensure that the primary reason for those who enter on a student visa is genuinely to come here to study.
"We are working closely with the Department for Business and will make an announcement in due course.”
:: Foreign pipe welders, meat trimmers and sheep shearers will be stopped from taking jobs in the UK under proposals presented to the Home Office yesterday.
Eight job classes, also including senior care workers, should be removed from the so-called shortage occupation list because they do not meet new rules that jobs open to migrants should require qualifications at graduate or equivalent level.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the Government immigration adviser, said foreign chefs should also only be allowed to come if they have five years experience and are earning more than £28,000.
The eight cover about 270,000 jobs in the UK and removing them from the list could affect up to 5,000 migrants a year.
