Commonwealth
Scholarships
236. In March 2008, the Foreign Secretary told us
that he had decided to reduce the extent of FCO support for certain
scholarship schemes; this included ending the FCO's contribution
to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). He
argued that this would free up some £10 million a year for
new activity on the FCO's new policy goals.[315]
In practice this means that Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK
will now be available only to developing Commonwealth countries
through DfID. The FCO will still support a limited number of scholarships
for Commonwealth citizens through its global Chevening Scholarships
Programme[316], but
Commonwealth countries will have no special status in this.
237. We received a number of submissions expressing
dismay at this termination of FCO funding for the Commonwealth
scheme. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission highlighted the
"complete lack of consultation on the announcement"
and suggested that it was "based on very little concrete
evidence."[317]
It proposed that instead it should be offered the opportunity
to administer those scholarships still offered by the FCO in Commonwealth
countries. [318] It
also argued that the decision represented "a backward step
for Britain's role in the world" and meant that "a brand
that has produced thousands of influential friends for Britain
will be unnecessarily discarded".[319]
238. Valerie Davey, Executive Chairperson of the
Council for Commonwealth Education, wrote to us expressing dismay
at the decision and suggesting that the FCO thought that the move
would be "an easy cut". She added:
My feeling is that officers in the FCO thought
[…] take from the rich and give to the poor, without a real
concept of the nature of the Commonwealth (i.e. it is more than
an aid agency), failing to recognise the reciprocal nature of
the scholarships by which British students benefit, and forgetting
the contribution British universities make for these exceptionally
highly qualified students.
There are two ironies about the timing of this
announcement. Less than two years ago when the Canadian Govt.
proposed a similar cut we, the British Government. and the Commonwealth
bodies, appealed to them and they relented - a fact which I believe
Gordon [Brown] was reminded of by the Canadian Prime Minister
recently. Also next year is the 50th Anniversary of the establishment
of these scholarships, and there are plans by the Commonwealth
Education Ministers to celebrate by extending them. […]It
seems so awful that our credibility and former standing within
the Commonwealth on this issue should be jeopardized now.
[320]
239. We wrote to the Foreign Secretary about this
issue in April 2008. In response, the Foreign Secretary stated:
You asked about the evidential basis for concluding
that Commonwealth scholarships are less worthy of FCO financial
support than Chevening scholarships. We want our scholarship schemes
to develop influence for us among the world's future leaders.
And they do this most effectively when our Posts have clear ownership
of the scholarships, have a clear ambition to select future leaders,
and form and maintain strong links with scholars from the time
of their selection through their careers. The CSFP is a well-run
programme, but its nature is different, operating at arm's length
from the FCO, selecting according to different criteria and not
providing the level of engagement we need to form proper bonds
with scholars and alumni.
[321]
240. In October 2008, we asked Sir Peter Ricketts
about the reaction of the Commonwealth countries to the FCO's
decision. He told us he had received representations from those
in charge of the CSFP as well as from one Commonwealth country
criticising the decision.[322]
241. Sir Peter told us that the FCO spent around
£2 million on Commonwealth scholarships.[323]
He went on to note, "[w]e are still spending a very significant
sum of money on scholarships. Our budget for that is £27
million this year and will be £25.5 million in the next two
years, so we are still major scholarship funders."[324]
In December 2008, the FCO provided us with more detailed information
about its recent and projected levels of funding for Chevening
Scholarships, Chevening Fellowships, Commonwealth Scholarships
and the Marshall Scheme. We have printed this information with
this Report.[325]
242. We conclude that the FCO's decision to end
its funding of the Commonwealth Scholarship programme is regrettable.
The ensuing saving of £2 million is very small in relation
to the Department's overall funding, and has caused damage to
the UK's reputation in the Commonwealth.
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