HC Deb 15 June 1967 vol 748 cc753-6
13. Mrs. Knight

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has completed his inquiries into the proposals for arrangements to relieve financial hardship among overseas students studying in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crosland

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 5th June.—[Vol. 747, c. 143–4.]

Mrs. Knight

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will not lose sight of the fact that such aid gives a very important bonus of good will towards Britain, and that this good will is far greater than that which comes to us from other countries where large strings of grants are made far in excess of the money involved here?

Mr. Crosland

I shall certainly bear that in mind. Indeed, I agree with what the hon. Lady said. The whole purpose of the hardship fund is to make sure that no overseas student currently here, particularly from the developing countries, will have to give up the course he is currently engaged on because of the increase in fees.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is yet possible to tell from the statistics for admission to the universities in October how many people are likely to be accepted from developing countries, and whether this shows any fall in number in recent years?

Mr. Crosland

No, Sir. It is not possible yet to give any such estimate. When I can, I shall give it to the House. As my hon. Friend probably knows, students committed to entering a course this autumn are not excluded from the operation of the hardship fund.

Mr. Hogg

With the Summer Recess no more than two months away, will the Minister recognise that there is a time factor here and that some of us are being embarrassed by not being able to advise constituents as to what measures they must take in order to attract consideration for this plan?

Mr. Crosland

Yes, Sir. The right hon. and learned Gentleman has corresponded with me about at least one of his constituents on this. I am glad to tell the House that the Advisory Board held its first meeting only three days ago, and it will shortly hold its second meeting. Therefore, the operation is now proceeding very rapidly. The right course of action for any student who feels that he may suffer hardship is now to approach his university or college, as the case may be.

22. Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the administrative costs likely to be incurred by universities and other institutions of higher education, the University Grants Committee and Government Departments, in operating the proposed equalisation fund for dealing with cases of hardship to overseas students and inequity to colleges arising out of the Government's decision to increase the tuition fees of overseas students to £250 per year.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

The costs to the British Council and the Advisory Board will be small. I do not expect that there will be identifiable increases in administrative costs elsewhere in the educational system.

Mr. Jenkin

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that individual colleges are setting up equalisation funds, that universities are setting up equalisation funds for colleges within themselves and that now we have the University Grants Committee setting up equalisation funds between universities? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that when the administrative costs of all this rigmarole are added up they are likely to exceed the savings which the Government hope to achieve in this exercise?

Mr. Roberts

I could not possibly accept that suggestion. We have made available a substantial sum to assist in cases of hardship. Universities and other institutions and organisations remain free to operate their own system of assistance apart from this fund. As I have said, the costs of administration are likely to be very small indeed.

Mr. David Steel

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many institutions have notified the Government that they will not follow the Government's advice by increasing overseas students' fees?

Mr. Roberts

Not without notice.

24. Dr. Gray

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that the fees charged for higher education in the United Kingdom to students from developing countries should be no greater than those charged to United Kingdom residents.

Mr. Crosland

No, Sir. But the position of students from developing countries has been very much in mind in the easements which I have already announced.

Dr. Gray

I welcome my right hon. Friend's Answer, but would he say something about his long-term plans in view of the fact that higher education is a valuable form of aid to under-developed countries? One hopes that, as he said, he will treat students from such countries as being in a special category. Would my right hon. Friend give us some details?

Mr. Crosland

I agree that higher education is an invaluable form of aid, although I must add in fairness that it may be better to provide it in the countries concerned rather than in this country. I am conscious of the longer-term programme and I am keeping it under consideration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development.