THE number of foreign students given visas for Britain is to be slashed, it has been confirmed this week.

Torbay's language schools are waiting for details of the changes which they fear will cost them £1million of business.

Foreign students bring £13million into the Bay economy and there are concerns that changes to the visa system for students will hit hard.

Alex Perkins, managing director of Paignton's LAL Language School, said: "We're all biting our nails as we wait for an outcome."

MP Adrian Sanders said: "These regulations will sweep away legitimate businesses, possibly costing dozens of jobs in the Bay and many hundreds of host families an extra income."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced the measures as part of a crackdown on abuses of the system.

The current set-up has been criticised for enabling terrorist suspects and other would-be immigrants to gain entry into Britain and then stay on, despite their visas being temporary.

These new Home Office rulings will not require legislation, and are due to come into force imminently.

Tens of thousands fewer visas are expected to be granted as a result of the measures — although the Home Office refused to give any estimate.

Mr Perkins said: "It's an unprecedented attack on our industry.

"It'll have a major impact on host families, teachers and the schools. All sorts of organisations are going to go to the wall.

"It's an incredibly crude ruling. We're being sacrificed, and the mood is very black in this industry.

"We know the numbers are going to be slashed. It's how they'll be slashed — that's what's concerning people. We just can't get our heads around it."

The points-based visa system was introduced around a year ago, requiring students to secure 40 points to come to the UK.

Applicants are given 30 points for holding a course offer from a college or university, and 10 points for proving they can pay the fees and support themselves while in the country.

Mr Sanders, Lib Dem MP for Torbay, is seeking urgent clarification on the new proposals: "We desperately need clarity to find out how much these changes will hurt the sector.

"While measures need to be taken to crack down on illegal schools, these regulations will sweep away legitimate businesses, possibly costing dozens of jobs in the Bay and

many hundreds of host families an extra income."

It has been suggested that would-be students from outside the EU will have to speak English to a level just below GCSE standard, rather than the beginner level currently required.

In a bid to protect jobs for British youngsters, students taking below degree-level courses will only be permitted to work for 10 hours a week, instead of the current 20.

Those on courses lasting less than six months will not be allowed to bring dependants at all, while the dependants of students on below degree-level courses will not be allowed to work. Visas for below degree-level courses will also only be granted for institutions on a new register, entitled the Highly Trusted Sponsors List.