§ 17. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Mauritius.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe enjoy a close and constructive relationship with Mauritius.
§ Mr. GreenwayI thank my hon. Friend for that fine reply. Does he accept that Britain is popular in Mauritius and that Mr. Jugnauth and his Government are very friendly towards this country because of their close educational links with it? If he agrees, how is he seeking to extend that principle?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Mauritian Foreign Minister recently said that relations are entering a new period of understanding and co-operation, and he has seen my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary twice in the past year.
As for education, under an agreement called the Laureate scheme, we are providing nearly £3 million over a five year period to fund scholarships which enable 13 Mauritians to come to Britain as students.