§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the reduction in enrolment of students from the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia in British universities over the last year;
(2) how many students from the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia enrolled at universities in Great Britain during the academic years beginning 1978, 1979 and 1980; and what information he has as to the equivalent figures for France and the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Dr. BoysonThe numbers of overseas new entrants, both undergraduate and postgraduate, over the last three years were as follows:
Great Britain Universities—Overseas new entrants 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 (provisional) Percentage reduction 1979–80 to 1980–81 Gulf States 125 135 107 21 Saudi Arabia 101 77 65 16 The latest information on students from these countries studying in France and in the Federal Republic of Germany is for 1976–77, covers students on all advanced courses including those outside the universities and relates to students on all years of their course. It is as follows: 168W
1976–77 Advanced courses—Total Students Country of domicile Country of study France Federal Republic of Germany Gulf States 51 8 Saudi Arabia 272 38
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in relation to arrangements approved by him on 9 March in pursuance of section 41(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976 in respect of fees in the maintained and assisted sectors of further education, for overseas students who began courses on or after 1 September 1980 where a local education authority makes a charge for the supervision of "home" sandwich course students during their periods of placement in accordance with the current recommendations of the Council of Local Education Authorities, he will fix the same fee as for "home" students at a level which would have been charged had the period been spent in college.
§ Dr. BoysonCharges for sandwich course students in further education when on industrial placement are a matter for local determination. To satisfy the arrangements approved by my right hon. and learned Friend in pursuance of section 41(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976 the charges have to be of an amount reasonably justifiable for the purpose of meeting the cost to the establishment of that element of the course.