A points-based Visa system for visiting artists and performers should be 'robust but fair' according to a home office minister.
Lord De Mauley was responding to a question from Lib Dem peer Lord Clement Jones in Lords yesterday, who asked if there would be a review on the impact of the new system.
De Mauley explained: "There are no current plans for such a specific review, but a broader survey across all categories of tier 5 applicants-including, of course, artists and performers-has recently been undertaken, the findings of which will shortly be published."
Lord Clement Jones tthanked the minister for his "encouraging reply" prompted jeers from the Labour benches.
“It was a breath of fresh air compared with replies on the subject from the previous government," he said.
He then asked: "Will he include also the issue of academic visiting visas, which is a matter of concern to the academic community?"
De Mauley explained there would are "two routes". "The first two are useful for short-term visitors: one is a concession under tier 5 for non-visa nationals that require no prior entry clearance."
He added: "The other is an entertainer visitor scheme outside the points-based system.
De Mauley spoke of the need to "foster culture in our country" adding that "foreign artists are extremely welcome here, but the system needs to be robust and fair."
Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked: "Will the minister consider that there is a great deal of difference between visiting artists and young people who are not yet artists?
"I have cited in the past Joan Sutherland, who was nothing when she first came here. The time and training that she had here made a difference.
"The previous government replied that they had introduced a degree of flexibility to enable young talent to come particularly from Australia, because Australian points are what we are basing this on."
"No one goes to Australia to become an artist," she said to roars of laughter from the Lords.
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