§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what form assistance is given to diplomatic service members posted overseas to have their children educated at private schools in the United Kingdom; and what is the current maximum and minimum allowance given.
§ Mr. EggarAll members of the Diplomatic Service who serve at posts overseas are eligible to apply for an allowance towards the costs of their children's boarding school education. The current maximum allowance is £1,695.19 per term for a boy at senior school. There are separate and lower allowances for girls' senior and boys' and girls' junior schools. The minimum allowance is £1,464.64 per term.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will publish a table showing the amount of financial assistance given to members of the Diplomatic Service towards their children's education at private schools in England and Wales since 1984, indicating (a) the names of the schools involved and the local education authority area they are situated in, (b) the amount of allowance spent on this education scheme at each of these schools and (c) the number of pupils involved in each school;
(2) if he will publish a table showing the amount of financial assistance given to members of the Diplomatic Service towards their children's education at private schools in Scotland since 1984, indicating (a) the schools involved and the region of Scotland they are situated in, (b) the amount of allowance spent on the education scheme at each of these schools and (c) the number of pupils involved at each school;
(3) how much has been spent in total on assistance to members of the Diplomatic Service to have their children educated at private schools in Scotland, while they are posted overseas in each year since 1981;
(4) how much has been spent in total on assistance to members of the Diplomatic Service posted overseas to have their children educated at private schools in England and Wales in each year since 1981.
§ Mr. EggarThe detailed information is not available in the form requested and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the following six answers on the same subject:
855W
Official Report: 28 October 1985 Cols 357–358 12 November 1985 Cols 144–145 10 March 1986 Col 362
19 May 1986 Cols 17–18 3 June 1986 Col 414 23 July 1986 Col 252