Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee (Hansard, 29 April 1965)

§ Mr. Oram

The answer to the first part of the Question is that Mr. A. R. Thomas, C.M.G., an Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Development, is the representative of the United Kingdom.

The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:

(a) To provide a forum for consideration of such matters of principle arising out of the schemes of Commonwealth co-operation in education as may be referred to it by any member and to consider any suggestions for further improving Commonwealth co-operation in education.

(b) Subject to the functions of recording information about awards under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and preparing an annual report which are assigned to the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth, to ascertain what information will be of value to member Governments and suggest what would be the most convenient manner for member Governments to obtain it; and act generally as a centre of reference to develop and improve Commonwealth co-operation in education.

(c) To undertake such functions as are by agreement assigned to it from time to time consequent upon Commonwealth Education Conferences, which include inter alia publishing reports on the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, improving existing 90W arrangements for Commonwealth cooperation, preparing material for submission to further Commonwealth Education Conferences and advising on requests from member countries for assistance in concluding bilateral arrangements.

(d) The normal method of implementing schemes of Commonwealth co-operation is through bilateral contacts between Commonwealth countries. Subject to this, the Committee undertake such other functions, in extension of or in addition to the functions referred to in the previous paragraph, to supplement normal bilateral arrangements between member Governments and to develop and improve Commonwealth co-operation in education as they may deem necessary and feasible.