HC Deb 19 January 1999 vol 323 cc423-4W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many students from sub-Saharan Africa were in receipt of her Department's awards to study in Britain in(a) 1989–90 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available; what was the percentage change in awards; and if she will make a statement. [66198]

Clare Short

The number of students from sub-Saharan Africa who were in receipt of my Department's awards to study in Britain in 1989–90 and 1997–98 are as follows:

  • 1989–90: 7,671
  • 1997–98: 1,585.

The percentage change in awards is—79 per cent.

This reflects the positive commitment shift from UK-based training to "in-country" and regional training and workshops over the past ten years.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's awards to students from sub-Saharan Africa for study in Britain are managed by the British Council. [66219]

Clare Short

All the Department for International Development's awards for training in Britain for students from sub-Saharan Africa are managed by the British Council.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will increase the number of her Department's awards to students from sub-Saharan Africa to study in Britain. [66220]

Clare Short

The provision of awards for study in Britain is determined by the priorities identified in our Country Strategy Papers, in line with my Department's White Paper on poverty elimination. We shall continue to address the needs of Sub-Saharan Africa for skills development by ensuring that training awards and centrally funded scholarship schemes are targeted on those countries which need them most.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what factors underlie her Department's policy for making awards to sub-Saharan Africans to study in Britain; and what assessment she has made of the benefits to(a) the students and (b) Britain. [66224]

Clare Short

The provision of awards for study in Britain is intended to support the development goals and priorities outlined in the White Paper. For Sub-Saharan Africa the need is to build up skills which will contribute to their countries' social and economic development, including scientific and technological development.

Scholarship schemes are reviewed periodically by my Department; the latest review was carried out by Sir William Taylor in August 1997. A number of benefits were identified.

The benefits of interest to DFID are the enhancement of skills and capacity to promote the development of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is the proper objective of all spending of DFID's development assistance.