Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the annual UK aid budget is devoted to funding students from developing nations to study at UK higher education institutions; and what plans there are to increase that proportion.

During the financial year 2016-17, DfID programmes supported over 9,000 individuals through tertiary education scholarships, including through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office also funded 1,838 overseas students through Chevening Scholarships to study at UK universities in 2016-17.

We regularly review our ODA spending to ensure that it is spent as effectively as possible and where need is greatest.