Boarding School Allowances

HC Deb 18 March 1980 vol 981 cc138-9W

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Lord Privy Seal what were the total amounts of boarding school allowances and overseas travelling expenses paid in 1979–80 in respect of the children of Foreign Office and Overseas Development Administration staff.

Mr. Blaker

Expected expenditure on boarding school allowance for the financial year 1979–80 is £4,011,084 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and £78,482 (Overseas Development Administration).

The cost of fares for children being educated in the United Kingdom to visit their parents during school holidays was £862,927 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and £45,514 (Overseas Development Administration).

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Lord Privy Seal what were the number and percentages of staff taking up boarding school allowances in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and in the Overseas Development Administration in 1979–80.

Mr. Blaker

The number of staff in receipt of boarding school allowance in the financial year 1979–80 was 1,019 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and 35 (Overseas Development Administration). These figures represent 20.08 per cent. of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in eligible categories—including seconded officers—and 1.7 per cent. of total Overseas Development Administration staff.