Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which scholarship programmes his Department funded, part-funded or otherwise supported in each of the last 10 years; what the purpose and remit was of each such programme; how many people benefitted from each such programme; and what the cost of each such programme was in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Field, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has funded Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes throughout this period and has previously part-funded the Commonwealth Scholarship Programme which since 2009 has been primarily delivered by the Department for International Development (DfID). All three scholarship programmes are key instruments of UK soft power and support our foreign policy objectives.

Marshall Scholarships

The bilateral Marshall Scholarship Programme was established by an Act of Parliament in 1953 to thank the American people for the UK's share of Marshall Aid. It is a key element in the special relationship between the US and the UK. An Order-in-Council provides for up to 40 new Marshall Scholars each year, enabling talented postgraduate students from the US to study in the UK – mostly for 2 or 3 years.

Since the academic year of 2006/07 there have been 401 Scholars. The total FCO Grant-in-Aid over the same period was £22,990,000. The annual figures are shown in Table A (Annex A).

Chevening Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarship Programme creates lasting, positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision-makers from 140 different countries around the world. Founded in 1983, Chevening is one of the largest international scholarship programmes in the world. In 2016/17 the programme welcomed 1,918 scholars to the UK to study for one year master's degrees on the course and at the university of their choice.

Since the academic year of 2006/07 there have been 12,673 Scholars. The total FCO funding over the same period was £294,800,000. The annual figures are shown in Table B (Annex A).

Commonwealth Scholarships (partly funded)

The Commonwealth Scholarship Programme awards approximately 800 scholarships and fellowships, for postgraduate study and professional development, to Commonwealth citizens each year. The programme aims to contribute to the UK's international development objectives and wider interests overseas and promotes the principles of the Commonwealth.

The programme is currently funded by DfID and the Department for Education. The FCO funded awards until 2008. The annual figures for this period are shown in Table C (Annex A).

To note: the numbers of scholars in Table C represent the proportion of Commonwealth scholars funded by the FCO contribution. Between 2009-2012 the FCO contribution did not directly fund scholarship awards.

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