HL Deb 16 June 1982 vol 431 c697WA
Lord Mottistone

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What efforts have been and are being made to encourage student exchange under the auspices of IAESTE, since the use of the scheme by the United Kingdom has dropped from receiving 909 students and sending 883 students in 1960 to 88 "in" and 125 "out" in 1981 and comparing the Federal Republic of Germany's 1981 figures of 916 "in" and 726 "out".

Lord Elton

To halt the decline in IAESTE's activities in this country the Government encouraged the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges in 1980 to assume responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the scheme in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom national committee now has a permanent headquarters for the first time in its history, together with a full-time secretariat with support services. This has enabled it to canvass more than 2,000 firms in the past year seeking sponsorships. It has also introduced a new scheme of sponsorship. These initiatives are modestly encouraging. Movements into and out of the United Kingdom this year are expected to grow to at least 100 and 130 respectively, with further expansion expected in the future.