TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 102

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5. On 22 July, the Government announced that the

introduction of the increase in school fees had

been postponed from 1 September 1971 to 1 January

1972 in order that full consideration could be

given to the recommendations of the Salaries

Commission (which reported at the end of June)

on the question of an educational allowance for

Government officers. It was also announced that

a new scheme for the remission of fees was under

consideration.

6.

In November the whole question was considered

by the Governor-in-Council. The present position

is as follows

(a) A Select Committee of the Legislative

Council has been appointed to enquire

into the costs of operating the

English schools and to report not later

than 31 March 1972.

(b) The Finance Committee of the Legislative

Council has approved the payment of a

subsidy to the English schools at the

higher level for a further year.

This

(c)

means that the higher fees will not be

introduced until 1 September 1972.

The proposed educational allowance

and the new scheme for the remission

of fees will be further considered

when the report of the Select Committee

is available.

7. This is a potentially explosive issue but

it seems unlikely that it will be brought up by

anybody during the Secretary of State's visit.

3.

/if