HC Deb 07 July 1989 vol 156 c317W
Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the financial assistance available to(a) Palestinian and (b) Israeli students who wish to study in the United Kingdom; and what numbers of students are involved.

Mr. Eggar

Both Israeli students and Palestinian students from the occupied territories are eligible for financial support to study in the United Kingdom under the following award schemes which we fund:

  1. (i) the FCO scholarships and awards scheme (FCOSAS);
  2. (ii) the overseas research students awards scheme (ORSAS) funded by the Department of Education and Science; and
  3. (iii) the British Council's fellowships programme.

In addition, Palestinian students are also supported under the ODA's technical co-operation and training programme (TCTP).

In 1988–89 a total of 63 Israelis and 94 Palestinians from the occupied territories were studying in the United Kingdom and sponsored by us.