§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the British Council regarding the higher education awards to students from Montserrat studying in the United Kingdom. [108139]
§ Mr. WicksOfficials from my Department meet from time to time with the British Council, who administer the Montserrat Emergency Award Scheme, to discuss the scheme's effectiveness, guidance on eligibility criteria, numbers of Montserrat students involved and the associated funding required. The scheme began in 1997, following volcanic activity on Montserrat, and provides students with bursaries to help meet the costs of their higher education tuition in England and Wales. My Department is providing £1.322 million to support 198 students in the current financial year.