§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount paid to grant-aided and independent schools in Scotland for 1982–83 on behalf of children of members of his Department's Diplomatic Service and Overseas Development Administration; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. HurdThe allowances paid in the year 1982–83 for children of Diplomatic Service officers and other eligible staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attending independent or grant-aided schools in Scotland was £180,127. At present no members of the Overseas Development Administration send their children to boarding schools in Scotland.
Staff in both Departments send their children of school age to boarding schools in the United Kingdom in order to ensure continuity of education in the British system. The choice of school is left to parents.