Osborne: Foreign scientists are welcomed

The most talented scientists should have no problem applying for a visa to work in the United Kingdom, Chancellor George Osborne told British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) here Thursday. Mr Osborne said that if there was a perception the brightest overseas PhD students were no longer welcome to study in the UK, the Government must work to change it. But he defended the latest immigration controls, which include higher standards of English literacy and refusing overseas graduates the right to stay in the UK unless they have a job with a salary above 20,000 pounds. Speaking on (BBC) Radio 4, Mr Osborne said: "I think we need to support our universities. I think they are one of the jewels in the crown of the British economy. "It is fantastic that unlike sadly many countries on the continent, we still have leading institutions that can hold their own against the best American institutions, and increasingly Chinese and Indian institutions. "I think that you have also got to make sure that we attract the best people to this country and that means a visa regime that controls immigration, that caps immigration, but makes sure that when you have a scientist of exceptional quality, or indeed a PhD student, that they feel able to come to this country and do their work here." He was then asked by Sir Paul Nurse, one of the country's leading scientists and president of the Royal Society, whether the Government's latest measures were putting off students. The Chancellor replied: "If that is the perception then we must change it because I don't think it matches with the actual reality of the regime. "You do have to have immigration control and the public lost confidence in the immigration control, so it is important that the Government gets public confidence in immigration control. "But immigration control should not keep out the brightest and the best from around the world and we do have a couple of routes into the country for talented scientists. One involves the Royal Society, which is scientists of exceptional talent - I am talking about the very best scientists in the world - they are fast-tracked into the UK. "But actually, in the last couple of weeks, we have also announced that people with PhDs in science, and indeed in other disciplines, can come to study here and stay here after they have studied to look for work and find a job that is fulfilling and going to contribute to our economy. "I think, for the kinds of people we are talking about - people with real talent and ability and significant educational achievement behind them - they should have no problem in coming and working here."