§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many students in each year since 1987 have taken advantage of his Department's Hosting for Overseas Students organisation; what has been the cost; and if he will make a statement. [25464]
§ Mr. HanleyThe number and cost of placements arranged by Hosting for Overseas Students—HOST—a charity supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, is as follows:
Number of student visits to families Total costs £ 1987–88 n/a 76,821 1988–89 1,708 176,133 1989–90 2,145 101,888 1990–91 3,577 135,552 1991–92 4,012 123,678 1992–93 4,031 189,327 1993–94 5,253 197,436 1994–95 5,705 199,587 1995–96 1— 212,863 1Number not yet known. HOST performs a very valuable service in providing overseas students with experience of life in British families and we hope it will continue to expand, in particular by attracting new host families.