Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide special dispensation to extend the 30 day overseas window for Syrian and Turkish Chevening Scholars who have returned home to be with family and support relief efforts following the earthquakes on 6 February 2023.

Following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the Chevening Secretariat contacted all impacted scholars to check on them at what we know is a very difficult time. We offered to support scholars to travel home where there was a compassionate case to do so, for example where they were needed to support close family members.

We have extended the time that these scholars are permitted to spend overseas from 30 to 44 days in line with our compassionate leave policy, and we will consider the case for award interruptions or extensions where scholars are unable to continue their scholarship because of the impact of the earthquake.