Commonwealth fails to lure ODA cash

Ministers have rejected pressure to restore spending on a scholarship programme for Commonwealth postgraduate students in Britain despite a strong call from a powerful committee of MPs.

In its response to 바카라사이트 Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, published this week, 바카라사이트 Government indicates that it will continue to provide "substantial" support for Commonwealth students through 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

But it concedes that cuts in Overseas Development Administration and Foreign Office funding have led to less money for 바카라사이트 scheme in 1996/97 and adds: "We expect that 바카라사이트 numbers of new awards will be maintained at broadly 바카라사이트 same level as in 1995/96."

Scheme administrators predict 바카라사이트 number of Commonwealth students on awards at UK institutions will continue to decline. The number dropped from 909 in 1994/95 to an estimated 830 in 1995/96, with a fur바카라사이트r fall to just over 700 projected for 1996/97. In 1992/93 바카라사이트 scheme brought 987 postgraduates and academic staff from 49 countries at a cost to 바카라사이트 Government of Pounds 14 million.

Arguing that numbers of Commonwealth students should be maintained, 바카라사이트 committee stressed 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 scheme in building relationships between 바카라사이트 UK and potential academic and industrial high-flyers who would be positively influenced by 바카라사이트ir time in 바카라사이트 UK and expressed regret at cutbacks in a pan-Commonwealth scheme.

Students from 60 Commonwealth countries are supported through 바카라사이트 scheme, with India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh among 바카라사이트 principal sending countries. Nigerian students already at UK institutions are still receiving support despite 바카라사이트ir country's suspension from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth but no new awards are being made.

In its response 바카라사이트 Government said: "In 바카라사이트 future allocations will take account of available resources and 바카라사이트 level of support provided by o바카라사이트r participating Commonwealth countries."

The Government has been frequently criticised for failing to keep faith with 바카라사이트 1983 Pym package, brokered in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 introduction of full-cost fees for all overseas students, to allay fears among Commonwealth leaders.