By Email: Request-66778-Eff02617 Whatdotheyknow

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Dear Mr Kaye

Freedom of Information Request F2011-109

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 29 March 2011 in which you asked for information relating to expenditure on boarding school fees in the UK for DFID staff.

DFID holds some information relevant to your request and I have set out our response to each of your questions below. The information provided is based on centrally held information relating to the payment of Education Allowance to Home Civil Service staff. Please note that our records are held in a format which does not allow us to disaggregate data on Education Allowance relating to schools in the UK and those overseas.

The UK government provides free primary and secondary education for all children in the UK. However, in many overseas locations where DFID operates, free education either does not exist or is not of equivalent standard to UK schools. The terms and conditions of employment in DFID are set in order to recruit, motivate and retain staff who are skilled and equipped to meet DFID’s objectives. Those with children have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five, and they pay UK tax wherever they work. DFID, therefore, provides an Education Allowance to help employees on long term overseas postings ensure that their children are educated to the same standard they would receive in the UK. Parents can use this allowance to either pay for suitable schooling overseas or contribute to boarding school fees in the UK. Most parents prefer to take their children with them, but in some countries they are not permitted to do so, either for health or security reasons. Payments are not made directly to the schools. Education Allowance is payable within financial ceiling to employees, and applications must be supported by an appropriate invoice from the school.

1. The total spent on boarding school fees in each of the last five years.

The total spent on Education Allowance by DFID in each of the last 5 years was:

2. The names of any schools which currently receive funding in respect of three or more students, and how many students are funded in each case.

No schools currently receive funding from DFID. Education Allowance is paid to staff who meets the eligibility criteria, not directly to schools.

3. Whether and, and if so how many, staff now based in the UK continue to receive contributions towards boarding school fees

Continuity of children’s education is an important factor, particularly at secondary level. Education Allowance is occasionally paid to parents who have returned to work in the UK to permit their children to remain in the same school for a short time up to the next logical break in their education. This could, for example, be up to the end of the current term or while they complete a critical examination stage in their education.

As the number of current cases is very small (fewer than 5) we believe that disclosure of the specific number would breach the legitimate expectation of an individual’s right to protection of their personal information. We are, therefore, withholding this information under Section 40 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act as disclosure could lead to identification of these individuals.

4. Whether boarding school fees may be paid if the child's remaining parent remains resident in the UK.

Boarding school fees will not be reimbursed if the child’s remaining parent remains resident in the UK, unless the staff member is divorced or legally separated and has a residence order for the child concerned.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting reference F2011-109.

If you are unhappy with the service we have provided and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to Openness Unit at the address shown above or email within 2 months of the date of this letter.

If you do make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted DFID complaints procedure. You can contact the Information Commissioner at the following address: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Mackintosh

Openness Unit

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