Overseas Students (Hansard, 3 March 1982)

§ 14. Sir Paul Bryan
asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent the policies of Her Majesty's Government on overseas students have affected relations with other countries.

§ Mr. Luce
It is the case that there has been a reduction in the number of overseas students coming here and that a number of Governments have expressed their concern about that.

§ Sir Paul Bryan
If the charging of these fees for overseas students has affected foreign relations, trade and educational arrangments here, is it not apparent that the time has now come for a co-ordinated policy to be produced by all the Government Departments concerned, with the Foreign Office firmly in the lead?

§ Mr. Luce
This is an issue that concerns not just one Department but a great number of Departments. It is important for the future of our relations with so many countries that we should have as many students here as possible. As the House knows, it was necessary to take a decision to reduce public expenditure, and we had to bear in mind the economic constraints within which we were operating. I agree with my hon. Friend that the question is important, but we should await the report of the Overseas Students Trust, which is due to be published shortly. The Government shall be considering its findings carefully.

§ Mr. Moyle
Is the Minister aware that the island of Cyprus does not have a university because when it was 265 given independence the Government of the day—a Conservative Government—said that it would always be able to send its students to universities in this country? Now all classes and shades of opinion in Cyprus are viewing with alarm and dismay the fact that they will be unable to send other than a small group of wealthy students, and that the great bulk of students will go to America or Bulgaria? At the very minimum, will the hon. Gentleman ensure that special arrangements are made for Cyprus as a member of the Commonwealth, and in view of the promises made?

§ Mr. Luce
The matter does not concern only Cyprus. When we consider the report, it is important to take into account the nature of our relationship with many of our Commonwealth friends. It is also important to stress—and my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal would wish me to do so—that we are spending substantial public funds on the overseas development assistance programme to support many students. About £42 million is to be spent in 1982–83 on maintaining about 14,000 students and trainees.

§ Mr. Durant
Is my hon. Friend aware that the good will and training that overseas students gather in Britain can be of great advantage to us in the long term? For example, is my hon. Friend aware that as students educated here become senior executives in their own countries they will orient themselves towards Britain? The Government should consider that seriously.

§ Mr. Luce
I agree about the importance of providing training facilities. That is why we attach importance to studying carefully the Overseas Students Trust report due to be published shortly. We shall look at it as constructively as possible, bearing in mind economic restraints.