§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Iranian students are known to his Department to be studying in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are in receipt of grants from British public funds.
§ Dr. BoysonIn the academic year 1978–79 there was a total of 9,095 full-time Iranian students in the universities and colleges of further education in the United Kingdom. A further 1,596 students were attending private sector colleges and institutions for full-time courses lasting for at least six months. Complete information is not yet available for the academic year 1979–80, but the available figures for Iranian students in further education show a 10 per cent. fall as compared with 1978–79.
Only three Iranian students on course in December 1978 were funded under the British aid programme. However until the current academic year, the fees charged to overseas full-time students did not represent the total cost of the course. For further details I refer my hon. Friend to the written reply I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 11 June 1980.—Vol. 986, c. 197.]