Nicholas Soames calls for reassurance that there will be sufficient staff at our embassies and consulates to cope with the number of student visa interviews.

Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Given the scale of the earlier abuse, does my hon. Friend agree that the integrity of the student visa system depends on interviews? Is he satisfied that there will be sufficient staff at our embassies and consulates overseas to cope with the valued and welcome arrival of students in this country?

The Minister for Immigration (Mr Mark Harper): My right hon. Friend makes a very good point. We have started to do some interviewing in some high-risk countries, which has been very successful and has demonstrated the value of interviewing in certain locations, which allows us to drive out some clear abuse. Where that makes sense, we will continue to do it and will increase our ability to do so.

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