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Commonwealth Scholarships And Visiting Fellowships

Volume 640: debated on Monday 8 May 1961

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asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many applications have so far been received for Commonwealth Scholarships, and from which countries.

Special agencies established in each Commonwealth country overseas by their respective Governments receive applications for Commonwealth Scholarships. The number so far received is not available.Lists of selected candidates are submitted by these agencies to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

Particulars of nominations are as follows:

1960–611961–62
Canada6567
Australia4951
New Zealand1515
South Africa2425
India8080
Pakistan4040
Ceylon159
Ghana710
Malaya1314
Nigeria4627
Cyprus3
Sierra Leone94
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland810
High Commission Territories43
Aden2
British Guiana44
British Honduras12
Bahamas31
Barbados35
Bermuda12
Fiji22
Gambia22
Gibraltar22
Hong Kong1212
Jamaica87
Kenya88
Leeward Islands:
Montserrat12
Antigua15
St. Kitts/Nevis12
Mauritius210
Malta33
North Borneo1
Somaliland1
Sarawak1
Singapore116
Tanganyika211
Trinidad65
Uganda69
Windward Islands:
Grenada22
St. Vincent12
St. Lucia33
Dominica33
Zanzibar15
Total468474

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many applications have so far been received for Commonwealth Visiting Fellowships, and from which countries.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom did not make any awards of Commonwealth Visiting Fellowships in 1960. It is hoped that some awards of Visiting Fellowships will be made this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will request the Selection Committee for Commonwealth Visiting Fellowships to bear in mind the need for appointing one or two non-academic fellows from candidates who have distinguished themselves in their local communities, or in such fields as trades unionism, management, civil service, or journalism, or in teaching below university level.

Commonwealth Visiting Fellowships will be few in number and are intended for Scholars of high distinction and established reputation.Men and women who have distinguished themselves in non-academic fields such as are mentioned by the hon. Member are, however, eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarships offered by the United Kingdom if nominated by the agencies administering the plan in the countries to which they belong. Although these Scholarships are given mainly for post-graduate study or research, it is expressly provided in the directions which were issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and myself to the Commission, when it was established last year, that men and women who play important r61es in other ways in the life of their community may be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will appoint a representative from the field of adult education to the Selection Committee for Commonwealth Scholarships and Visiting Fellowships.

The nature of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan requires that the composition of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission should include a number of persons who hold senior positions in institutions of higher education, but in making the remaining appointments my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and I endeavour to ensure that they cover the widest possible field. The question of appointing someone possessing special qualifications in adult education needs therefore to be weighed against the claims of other interests for representation, e.g., industry and science. I would, however, assure the hon. Member that the possibility of appointing an expert in adult education will continue to be borne in mind as vacancies in the Commission occur.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will arrange for a pre-university orientation course for all Commonwealth Scholars and Visiting Fellows before they take up their studies at their various universities and colleges in Great Britain.

Courses of the kind described by the hon. Member were arranged by the British Council for the first group of 170 Commonwealth Scholars who took up Scholarships in the United Kingdom last September and similar arrangements will be made for Commonwealth Scholars in future years.The recipients of Commonwealth Visiting Fellowships, of which none have so far been awarded, will be distinguished scholars of established reputation and it is not considered that orientation courses would be appropriate for persons in this very senior category.