Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to relieve hardship to overseas students who are at present on courses in this country and who will be faced with 30 per cent. fee increases announced since their course commencement and for which, therefore, they would not have been able to budget.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE (Lord DONALDSON of KINGSBRIDGE)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science reminded authorities in Circular 14/75, issued on 23rd December last year, of the need to continue to exercise discretion in hardship cases. It is, of course, open to universities to take similar action. The 30 per cent. increase which he recommended represents a rise commensurate with increased educational costs, and it is applicable to home and overseas students alike. It would not be appropriate for the Government to safeguard one particular group, such as overseas students, from increasing costs of this kind.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he realises how difficult it may be for some who have not budgeted for these increases? Can they get help from local authorities or voluntary organisations, as happened in the case of the Biafran students when they found themselves in similar difficulties?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, within the educational system there are two sources of hardship relief which seem to be open to students. Under the higher education system, as opposed to universities, in the instructions given by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State regarding the 1975–76 increases, he suggested that in cases of special hardship some provision should be made. This has been done, and his announcement on 16th December suggested obliquely, by reference to other paragraphs, that this should remain open to institutions. In the case of universities, as the noble Baroness will remember, the University Grants Committee allocated a sum of money which has not altogether been used up. Whether they decide to use the balance for this purpose or prefer to keep it for the original purpose is a matter for them. Regarding the direct approach to local authorities for special welfare provision, I have no suggestions to make at the moment. I do not think anything is available, and I do not think it is intended that anything outside what I have mentioned should be made available.
§ Lord MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we appreciate the need for the increased cost to overseas students and also the sympathetic answers he has given so far? Is the noble Lord aware that the real hardship will fall on those overseas students who are half-way or perhaps two-thirds of the way through a course and who cannot possibly find this new 30 per cent. increase? If he could persuade the local authorities and universities to interpret sympathetically what he has said today, it will be a great help.
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, the noble Lord is really repeating what the noble Baroness was saying. I am trying, as he has admitted, to be sympathetic over this matter. It is not known how many students are half-way through their courses; but it is quite certain that if one were to take them in their entirety this would put the whole issue out of court. If there are a limited number of hard cases—and one hopes that would be so—then what I have already suggested may be sufficient to deal with the matter. There is the additional problem that each institution has, somehow or other, to find 429 out which are the genuine hardship cases; and this is extremely difficult.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the Minister whether it would be possible for the Government to inform students of these possibilities? Is it not often the case that they are ignorant of the opportunities open to them?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, I think that is a constructive suggestion. I shall see that something of the kind is done, if it has not been done already, through the institutions concerned.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, is my noble friend aware, or would he agree, that as a general principle we ought not to put any obstacles in the way of overseas students attending British universities?—because if they do not study here they might attend the universities of some Communist countries. Secondly, have the Government been in touch with the Governments of the countries concerned to see whether they can subsidise their students for the rest of their courses?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, regarding the second case, this is standard procedure. As regards the first case, it is hard to see what more can be done. The taxpayer is already paying 88½ per cent. of the entire cost of educating foreign students; and this is not a bad start.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy Lords, would the Government not agree that although the 30 per cent. increase appears to be even-handed as applying to all foreign and British students, the effect is that the great bulk of British students do not pay this increase and that in fact they do not pay any fees at all because they are paid for?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, the facts are true: the action is still even-handed.
§ Baroness SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend what inquiries are made as to the circumstances of these students before they are accepted?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, that is a separate question, of which I should like notice.
§ Lord GORE-BOOTHMy Lords, is there any possibility of the Minister reminding the UGC of this matter, and in some way expressing a hope that it will indeed use up the money that it has for this purpose?
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, the noble Lord knows the delicacy of the position between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and the UGC. It would be most improper for me to make suggestions. Whether it would be possible to let slip an idea is another matter.