HC Deb 11 February 1963 vol 671 cc928-30
29. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that a party of 28 Russian teachers and students, whose educational tour was arranged by the British Council, were compelled to share four and five in a bedroom in a Bristol hotel; who was responsible; if he will ensure that all similar delegations are properly looked after; and if he will make a statement.

40. Mr. Robert Cooke

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that a party of 28 Russian teachers and students, whose educational tour was arranged by the British Council, were compelled to share four and five in a bedroom in a Bristol hotel, because more arrived than were expected; and if he will ensure that proper arrangements are made for such parties in future.

Mr. P. Thomas

The National Union of Students was responsible for arranging this tour, which is one of a number of exchanges under the Anglo-Soviet Cultural Agreement operated by non-Governmental organisations with British Council support. The union has successfully received some four hundred Soviet student visitors in the past five years and I have no doubt that the incident in question was an isolated one which is unlikely to recur.

Sir C. Osborne

While I am grateful to hear that this is an isolated case, is my hon. Friend aware that the proprietors of the hotel were left feeling very dissatisfied with the arrangements and that the Russians themselves were also disappointed? Does he think that the National Union of Students is a responsible body to be controlling Government money in this way? Ought not better arrangements to be made?

Mr. Thomas

No, Sir. I think that as a matter of policy it is right that the details of the tours should be left to the student organisations. The British Council has, of course, a real interest in this, and I believe that it hopes to make arrangements to prevent the recurrence of similar events in future.

Mr. J. Dugdale

Will the hon. Gentleman say exactly what he means when he says that the British Council has "a real interest" and refers to, I think, "with British Council support"? What exactly does the British Council do in this matter?

Mr. Thomas

These exchanges are financed by the British Council.

Mr. Mayhew

Is not one of the lessons to be learnt that the more these exchanges can take place in an unofficial, unorganised manner, the better? Is there anything wrong in principle with students sharing a hotel room unless they are organised by some governmental body? Therefore, will the hon. Gentleman not be discouraged from promoting these exchanges and try constantly to make them less and less official instead of more and more so?

Mr. Thomas

I agree with the hon. Gentleman.

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