§ 31. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of overseas students; from which countries they mainly come; how much of the £1,000 a year that they each cost is paid as a subsidy from public funds; and whether, in view of the country's economic difficulties, he will cut this expenditure.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsA total of 29,659 in full-time and sandwich courses in the Universities and Colleges of Further Education in Great Britain. In 1966–67, the latest year for which figures are available, the largest numbers came from Commonwealth countries, U.S.A., Iraq, Iran and Norway.
The average annual cost per student ranges from about £300 for a non-advanced course of further education to over £800 for a university course. New student; pay fees of £150 for non-advanced courses, and £250 for advanced and university courses. The remaining cost is met mainly out of public funds. We have no proposals for reducing this expenditure.
§ Sir C. OsborneWhy did the Minister choose to reimpose prescription charges rather than to cut overseas foreign students grants?
§ Mrs. WilliamsLast year, as the hon. Gentleman knows, overseas students fees were raised. In the Government's view to do this again would be unfair. Secondly, this is a form of overseas aid which does not involve any expenditure on the balance of payments.