§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are now giving to Biafran students in this country whose grants have been cut off; and what has been his response to the appeal from the Edinburgh Biafran Students' Appeal on this subject.
§ Mr. FoleyHer Majesty's Government have done their best to ensure that students from Nigeria whose funds have been cut off as a result of the present strife do no: suffer hardship. They have been encouraged to register for employment and postpone their studies or pursue156W them on a part-time basis if possible. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs has given sympathetic consideration to applications to extend their permitted stay, while the local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security treat with sympathy applications for supplementary benefits by affected students seeking employment.
The attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards the general problem of these students has been made known to the President of the Appeal following his recent letters to my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and the Minister without Portfolio.