HC Deb 25 January 1993 vol 217 c538W
Mr. Viggers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if pupils at independent schools are eligible to participte in the programme of exchanges under the Lingua programme; and what are the reasons for these arrangements.

Mr. Boswell

Under the terms of the Council of Education Ministers' decision of 28 July 1989, upon which the Lingua programme is based, eligibility for support for pupil exchanges is limited to pupils attending educational establishments supported with public funds. In line with this, pupils at independent schools in the United Kingdom are not eligible for support under the current programme.