§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what contingency plans are made by his Department to meet major changes in the exchange rates with countries with which Britain has teacher exchanges;
(2) what plans he has for the future of the teacher exchange with the United States of America in the light of the recent changes in the exchange rate; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what representations he has received on the financial position of British teachers currently on exchange to the United States of America in the light of the recent change in the exchange rate;
(4) what research his Department has done into the benefits of the teacher exchange system; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what research his Department is doing on the financial position of British teachers now on exchange to the United States of America in the light of the recent fall in the value of the pound sterling;
(6) whether his Department has any plans to supplement the income of British teachers currently on exchange visits to the United States of America who find themselves beneath the poverty income guidelines of the United States Government as a result of the recent fall in the exchange rate.
§ Mr. BrookeTeachers electing to undertake exchanges continue to be paid by their British employers and for many countries (including the United States of America) are not subject, in the case of exchanges lasting a year or more, to any income tax on the salary so paid. In addition the Department provides funds for a small additional personal grant (currently £1,115 for the United States of America) and travelling costs.
The level of this personal grant is reviewed annually taking into account changes in the value of the pound, local inflation rates and other factors. Recruitment for the 1985–86 exchange programme is proceeding satisfactorily on this basis and there are no plans to modify the arrangements. The Department has received eight letters about the financial position of teachers currently in the United States of America. There has been no systematic study in the United Kingdom of benefits from teacher exchange but the Department is currently considering the commissioning of a research project to evaluate such benefits.