§ 2. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make provision for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to extend for a third year the tenure of as many 1960 Commonwealth awards as are justified by the progress of the holders as well as to enable the Commission to make 250 fresh awards this year.
§ Mr. BraineUnder the Commonwealth Scholarships Act, 1959, the Government provide up to 500 awards at any one time in accordance with their undertaking given at the Conference of Commonwealth Ministers at Montreal in 1958. The Government are unable to increase their total financial contribution to Commonwealth educational co-operation at present, but we are considering various means by which it might be possible for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to extend a substantial number of scholarships for a third year without reducing much below the present level the numbers of new scholarships to be offered annually.
§ Mr. BoydenThe hon. Gentleman should be more forthcoming, because this, in a way, is the penalty of success. I pay tribute to the success he has achieved. Is he aware that both the Annual Report of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the Delhi Conference have strongly recommended an increase in the number of scholarships because of the success of the scheme? Will he have another look at this question?
§ Mr. BraineI am aware of what the Report says. I think, however, that we should see this whole question in perspective. Before 1959 there was no Commonwealth scholarships plan. Last year we spent £122,000 on it. This year we estimate that we shall spend £330,000. Next year we estimate that we shall be spending £490,000.