§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the total cost to the British Exchequer of foreign students at British universities.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI cannot estimate what proportion of the total cost 167W of Universities to the Exchequer is attributable to students from overseas. In the academic year 1967–68 assistance to such students through the aid programme of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development, the British Council, Commonwealth Education Cooperation schemes and the fund set up for the relief of hardship following the raising of tuition fees in 1967 is estimated to have cost between £3.3 million and £4.3 million.