HC Deb 12 February 1998 vol 306 c325W
Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about(a) the payment of private school fees for the children of HM diplomatic personnel out of public funds and (b) the provision of return air flights to and from the United Kingdom to the children of HM diplomatic personnel in posts overseas out of public funds. [28984]

Mr. Doug Henderson

In the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has asked a number of questions about the independent review of FCO Overseas Allowances carried out by Sir Derek Hornby in 1996. Sir Derek's review includes recommendations on the provision of education for the children of HM Diplomatic Service Personnel overseas. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no communication with Treasury Ministers about the provision from public funds of return air flights to and from the UK to the children of HM Diplomatic personnel in Posts overseas.

Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of(a) providing return air flights to and from the United Kingdom out of public funds to the children of diplomatic personnel posted overseas and (b) the payment of school fees out of public funds for the children of HM diplomatic personnel. [28985]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We estimate that the cost of providing return air flights for such children who are being educated in the UK will be £895,000 in the current financial year. This excludes the cost of travel for children who are accompanying their parents to and from overseas Posts for which we have no separate estimates.

We estimate that the education costs for the children of diplomatic personnel over the same period will be £10,708,000. Of this, Boarding School Allowance, which contributes to the cost of fees at UK boarding schools is £7,732,000, and the cost of education at local schools overseas is £2,976,000.