§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he is unable to obtain figures of the number of employees in the Diplomatic Service receiving grants towards educational fees and the number of pupils in respect of whom they are paid.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleAs a consequence of regular transfers of officers between posts abroad and between London and overseas the number of members of the Diplomatic Service receiving educational grants and of the children in respect of which they are paid is not constant. About 960 officers are usually in receipt of boarding school allowances in respect 261W of some 1,670 children. Again, because they, too, constantly change, no record is kept in London of the exact numbers of officers overseas drawing grants in respect of pupils being educated in local schools—these figures could be obtained only by an inquiry to all overseas posts. There are, however, at present 613 officers overseas who are accompanied by children of school age and 880 children of that age. A substantial proportion of these will be attending fee-paying schools with fees reimbursed in whole or in part from public funds, but in some countries they will attend State schools and some will make other arrangements.