TNAG-1224-FCO40-1537-Visits-to-the-UK-by-official-and-unofficial-members-of-the-E-1983 — Page 135

LINE TO TAKE

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3. YOU SHOULD NOT (NOT) INITIATE DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER BUT IF IT IS RAISED YOU SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE WITH YOUR

CONTACTS:

(A)

THE LORDS' JUDGEMENT COULD HAVE COST THE BRITISH TAXPAYER

POUNDS STERLING 30 MILLION A YEAR IN LOST FEE INCOME ALONE AND WOULD HAVE MEANT A RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS

INDISCRIMINATE SUBSIDY OF OVERSEAS STUDENTS:

(B)

POLICY HAS BEEN TO END THE GENERAL SUBSIDY IN FAVOUR OF

SELECTIVE AND TARGETED AWARDS:

(C)

THE BILL MERELY ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE THE

POLICIES EXISTING PRIOR TO THE LORDS' JUDGEMENT:

(D)

(E)

(F)

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE FIRST TIME A CLEAR STATUTORY

BASIS FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN HOME AND OVERSEAS

STUDENTS:

THE GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE IT ATTACHES TO

ENCOURAGING OVERSEAS STUDENTS TO STUDY HERE AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE TO BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE TO DO SO. HENCE THE

DECISION TO MAKE AN EXTRA POUNDS STERLING 46 MILLION

AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL AWARDS OVER THE PERIOD

1983/84 TO 1985/86:

ANY AWARDS MADE AS A RESULT OF THE LORDS' JUDGEMENT WOULD

HAVE BEEN WINDFALLS SINCE NO STUDENTS ALREADY HERE COULD

HAVE EXPECTED SO TO BENEFIT.

FURTHER BACKGROUND

4.

·

di

FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS THAT STUDENTS

WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE 'HOME STUDENT'' RATE OF FEE FOR 1983/84 AND THEREAFTER UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS SHOULD PAY THE

OVERSEAS RATE FOR THOSE YEARS EVEN IF THEY CAN CLAIM IN THE

LIGHT OF THE DECEMBER RULING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REGARDED

AS ORDINARILY RESIDENT HERE IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR OR IN

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