§ 55. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Offairs what steps he is taking to increase cultural contacts with the Somali Republic, and particularly to increase the number of scholarships awarded to Somali students through the British Council.
§ Mr. George ThomsonDespite the breach in diplomatic relations, the British190W Council, with the agreement of the Somali Government, offers up to 11 scholarships a year to Somali candidates. So far the Somali Government have asked the British Council to use these awards for the benefit of Somalis already in this country. This has limited the number of actual awards to about seven a year. The British Council however remains ready to consider officially sponsored applications from candidates in the Somali Republic. So far no such applications have been received.