§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Overseas Development, what steps he is proposing to take to assist members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service serving abroad whose children are at schools in this country where fees have risen by over £100 in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. OramBritish officers serving abroad under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme receive allowances towards the cost of the fees for their children at boarding schools in this country. The allowances are reviewed annually and are then adjusted where necessary to take account of the average rise in fees charged by a comprehensive range of schools.
Since the Overseas Service Aid Scheme was introduced in April, 1961, they have been increased five times, most recently on the 1st September of this year. The current rates of allowances are £265 per annum for the first child, £315 per annum for the second child and £375 per annum for each subsequent child. The allowances are free of Income Tax.