§ 27. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total expenditure by his Department on practical programmes for international education; and what official advice he has given to local education authorities in this respect.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsLocal education authorities finance the education service with the help of rate support grant, and practical programmes for international education are within their discretion. The Department makes grants to the Council for Education in World Citizenship, to the International Bureau of Education and to the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges.
§ Mr. JuddIn view of the Government's express commitment to the United Nations, the Commonwealth and now to entry into the Common Market, would not my hon. Friend agree that it is sad that in the past 15 years we have fallen so badly behind the rest of Western Europe in this respect? Will her Department give every possible encouragement to increasing these programmes in every possible way?
§ Mrs. WilliamsWhile not entirely accepting my hon. Friend's comment 962 about the difference between this and other countries, I share his desire to widen the syllabus to make it as internationally-minded as possible; and some steps to this end are being taken by the Schools Council. Before the Department at present is an application for an increased grant for the Council for Education in World Citizenship, and a decision about this will be made shortly.