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Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Scheme

I am sorry if I did not take that point in what I have just said. I agree with the noble Lord entirely. Of course there is a climate of opinion, and there is no doubt that we have work to do to continue to make countries sure that we are delighted to have overseas students in this country and that it is a very important part of our and the Commonwealth’s tradition. I am also delighted to be able to say that, since the noble Lord, Lord Luce, tabled his Question for Short Debate in the summer, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has decided to provide funding for developed Commonwealth countries through the plan, at £400,000 each year. This will be for new doctoral awards in 2009 and 2010, allowing 16 new PhD scholars in the first year, the same number as the FCO is funding this year, and a minimum of six in the second year. The universities will match these costs through to 2012-13. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has agreed to provide this funding because it recognises that the availability of funding for PhD students from developed Commonwealth countries is important to the competitiveness of UK universities—a point made time and again, very effectively, in this debate—in attracting the best international research talent. International researchers from all over the world contribute a huge amount to the life and vitality of our institutions. There is much competition, particularly from the USA. It is important to have as broad a base as possible from which our institutions can choose their researchers. To remove the option to award scholarships to research students from the developing Commonwealth would work against this and so disadvantage our own important institutions. Although the FCO has reduced its overall budget it is still spending more than £79 million in the three years 2008-11, which represents—the Committee will forgive me for using these figures—respectively 19.8 per cent, 17.25 per cent and 15.25 per cent of its annual discretionary programme budget, and there are nearly 1,000 Chevening scholars in this academic year 2008-09. There should be a similar number in 2009-10. The Chevening scholarship scheme remains one of the largest of its kind in the world and is more about future leaders than the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which places greater emphasis on academic excellence. There is an argument to be had about that but the Government have gone down the leadership route, as has been acknowledged—although not always approved of—in the debate. The FCO is further refining Chevening’s selection procedures and working with co-sponsors to ensure it is targeting the right people. Chevening connects scholars and alumni probably more directly to our network of diplomatic missions than, frankly, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, and it is less expensive student for student because it is a one-year award or an award for even shorter courses. Through it the FCO can direct resources in a way that more accurately reflects our priorities. The FCO is continuing to develop the Chevening fellowship scheme, selecting more than 200 mid-career professionals a year for a range of tailor-made 12-week courses in this country directly related to FCO policy goals. This scheme is leading to long-term beneficial relationships between us and the fellows, helping us to develop global networks in key areas. We thank the universities involved for their positive attitude to the scheme. The noble Lord, Lord Hannay, is, quite rightly, a great supporter of the Marshall scholarship scheme, and I have had an opportunity to read his various questions on it over the course of the past year. We place a high value on the scholarship scheme for US students and £2.2 million for 2009-10 has just been confirmed to the Commemoration Commission despite the reduction that we are making in the FCO scholarships budget. The noble Lord is right about it not being inflation proof, but it should allow the commission to offer a higher number of scholarships than for 2008-09 because the continuing costs of a smaller number of existing scholars will be lower. We are developing closer links with Chevening scholars and alumni, including through the introduction of a web-based alumni networking system this autumn. This new website is up-to-date with the most modern networking sites such as Facebook. A few years ago the very idea of that would have been frowned on, but not today. Chevening alumni are a significant part of our overseas audience and the FCO will use that website to engage them on foreign policy issues. We hope to do the same with Marshall alumni through the Association of Marshall Scholars in the USA. We also want to strengthen its links with Commonwealth alumni. The noble Lord, Lord Luce, asked about the Government’s plans for future funding of Commonwealth scholarships. I am afraid that I am not in a position to make any financial commitments beyond the period covered by the last Comprehensive Spending Review. However, the Government take seriously the need to continue to offer scholarships to attract the best overseas students to the UK. A departmental group is being set up by the FCO, including Universities UK and British business, to map all the UK scholarships on offer to international students, to look for ways of maximising their impact and to explore the possibility for additional funding, including doctoral awards. The noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, complained about the Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme and the decision taken in the summer. The new departmental working group on scholarships will also consider the impact of the decision to stop funding for those awards. The noble Lord, Lord Luce—I hope that I am now dealing with his fourth point—asked for the terms of reference. They have not yet been finalised; once they have been, I shall be happy to provide him and all other noble Lords who have spoken with a copy as soon as possible.