A HOME Office decision that will result in an increase in the cost of visas for international students—including research scientists—is a threat to Scotland’s ability to invest in its future well-being, St Andrews-based Scots MEP John Purvis has claimed.

He said he had written to Home Secretary Charles Clarke asking him to make the UK’s visa regime more attractive to people the country “badly needs.”

He was referring to news the Home Office has almost doubled the charges for international students to extend their visas from £155 to £250 for postal applications, and £250 to £500 for those made in person.

In the letter he said UK spending on research is “shamefully” below the EU average at about 1.87% of GDP—the Lisbon agenda states we should be spending 3%—and Scotland’s future well-being depends on vastly raising research and development spend.

“Jack McConnell, First Minister, strongly advocates encouraging third country nationals to come to Scotland. Our universities also depend heavily on non-UK and non-EU student fees to fund their research facilities,” he said.

A member of the European Parliament’s research committee, whose task is to increase research spending, he said higher charges would hinder research scientists coming to Britain.

“The University of St Andrews is just one of Scotland’s institutions which employs a number of international scientists on research projects, he said.