§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the date stipulated as the final deadline for applications by overseas students for admission to British universities; and what special financial assistance will be given to overseas students who completed their applications before the increased fees were announced.
§ Mr. CroslandThe final date for application to the Universities Central Council on Admissions was 15th December, 1966. The announcement of 21st December, 1966 on fees for overseas students was made before any decisions were likely to be reached on these applications, so that no special arrangements on the ground of prior commitment would appear to be justified.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise proposals are being considered for a special fund to be set up to assist overseas students who are unable to meet the increase in fees owing to special hardship; if such a fund will be available for private students as well as for those on grants from voluntary organisations; and how the fund will be administered.
§ Mr. CroslandThe proposed fund will be available to private students as well as those on grants from voluntary organisations. The details of the fund and its administration are now being worked out.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his definition of an overseas student; and what exact conditions and qualifications will entitled a student to be included in the category of British subject, immigrant or alien, respectively;
(2) whether overseas students who have been resident in the United Kingdom for longer than three years are exempt from the proposed increase in fees and qualify for local education authority grants.
§ Mr. CroslandThe test for higher fees. as has already been stated, will be based248W on ordinary residence and not on nationality or origin. Further guidance will be given after appropriate consultation has taken place.
Students who have been ordinarily resident for longer than three years before commencing their course are normally eligible for local education authority awards on the same terms as students resident in the United Kingdom since birth. These arrangements are not being altered.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of his proposal that universities themselves should subsidise the increase in fees for overseas students, if he will consider making special provision for assistance to those universities which have a high proportion of overseas students, and for which the provision of such subsidies would prove an impossible burden.
§ Mr. CroslandAs I announced on 14th February the Government intend to set up a fund to enable grants to be made towards the increase in fees in cases where hardship can reasonably be claimed. Universities will still be free to assist in cases of hardship if they are able to do so from their existing resources.—[Vol. 741, c.73.]