§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal why the child of a foreign diplomat resident in the United Kingdom receives free education at a maintained school but is required to pay tuition for higher and further education.
§ Sir Ian GilmourUnder the terms of section 8 of the Education Act 1944, local authorities have a duty to provide primary and secondary education free of charge to all children in their area. But there is no obligation on local authorities or universities to provide free education for students in further and higher education; and all such students are liable to pay fees.
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§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last five years of providing free medical treatment and education to foreign diplomats.
Sir Ian GiimourThis information is not readily available, and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will withdraw eligibility for free medical treatment from those diplomats representing countries with whom the United Kingdom has no social security convention, and from those countries with whom the terms of the conventions exclude free education for the United Kingdom's diplomatic staff.
§ Sir Ian GilmourNo. The eligibility of foreign diplomats for medical treatment under the National Health Service and to education in maintained schools is not related to social security provisions.