HC Deb 12 November 1985 vol 86 cc142-3W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many children of diplomatic staff were both educated and boarded at independent schools whilst being financed by the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each year since 1978–79.

Mr. Eggar

The information requested for the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office including communications department staff is set out in the table:

Year Number of children
1978–79 as at March 1979 1,748
1979–80 as at November 1979 1,681
1982–83 as at March 1983 1,491
1983–84 as at March 1984 1,368
1984–85 as at March 1985 1,336
1985–86 as at September 1985 1,349

Figures for 1980 to 1981 and 1981 to 1982 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.