Andrew Mitchell MP is encouraging Sutton Coldfield residents to have their say on immigration by responding to a Home Office consultation launched this week. On Tuesday 7 December, Damian Green the Minister for Immigration launched a public consultation on the Coalition Government’s proposals to reform the student visa system. Speaking about the proposals Sutton’s MP Andrew Mitchell has said, “The Government is committed to bringing down net migration to sustainable levels, reducing it to the tens of thousands a year by the end of this parliament. To achieve this we must focus on the student visa route which accounts for two thirds of immigration. Too many foreign students on courses below degree level have been coming here to work and live, rather than study. We need to stop this abuse. “Attracting talented students from abroad is vital to the UK but we must be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay. We want high calibre students with the genuine desire to study to come for temporary periods to our country, and then return home. “I hope that many of my constituents respond to the consultation – we want to hear views on our proposals from a wide range of people.\" To respond to the consultation visit the UK Boarder Agency’s website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. The closing date for response is 31 January 2011.