§ 14. Sir JOHN WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Italian schools in Egypt are accepting pupils of all nationalities under conditions as to fees and the provision of a midday meal materially more favourable to the parents than the conditions obtainable from 15 schools of other nationalities; whether these schools are subsidised by the Italian Government; and, if so, to what extent?
§ Sir J. SIMONWhile I am aware that Italian schools in Egypt are open to children of non-Italian nationality, and while I understand that Italian education in that country is subsidised by the Italian Government, I have no information either as to the amount of the financial assistance extended, nor as to the fees charged or the quality of the meals provided for the pupils.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEDoes not my right hon. Friend think it very undesirable that the children of other nationalities should be educated in Italian schools in Egypt; and cannot he make representations to such authorities as may be necessary in Egypt or Italy to secure one standard of fees and education?
§ Sir J. SIMONI do not think that I agree with my hon. Friend. I would remind him that the English school in Cairo receives the assistance of His Majesty's Government, and it is proposed to make provision in the Estimates to be laid before Parliament next year for a grant towards the formation of a British girls' school in Alexandria, the pupils of which will not be only of British nationality.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not the case that the grants of the Italian Government are much larger than that proposed by the British?
§ Sir J. SIMONI do not know. I thought that the question was on a point of principle. I do not think that in the case of either the Italian or the English schools in Egypt it will be possible for us to represent that the doors should be shut to anybody.
§ Sir P. HARRISShould we not make the British schools as attractive as the Italian?