TAXPAYERS have footed an £850,000 bill to educate up to 50 children of well-paid diplomats at Scotland's private schools over the last three years, the Sunday Herald can reveal.

The perk, paid out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), worked out at nearly £17,000 for every child last year.

John Wilson, an SNP MSP for Central Scotland, called for an investigation into the subsidies received by private schools.

The revelations are another blow for the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA), which pays the fees of children whose parents work for the Government overseas.

Although the beneficiaries of the CEA must pay at least 10% of the total school fee, parents can benefit from a maximum of £6074 per term.

In the last three years, around £607 million has been shelled out by Government departments in CEA subsidies.

By far the biggest spender was the Ministry of Defence, which meets the fees of military personnel posted abroad, while the FCO and the Department for International Development also pay out.

This newspaper revealed recently that Scottish private schools had pocketed £10m of public money to educate military children.

In 2009, 15 children of diplomats and senior FCO staff benefited from £236,746 of publicly-funded school fees, averaging £15,783 per child. In 2010, the figure rose to £287,062. Last year, £323,802 was handed over for the school costs of 19 children – £17,042 per child. Senior diplomats receive up to £208,100 a year in salary. According to the FCO, five private schools in Scotland shared the £847,610 that has been spent since 2009 on CEA payments. One was Tony Blair's alma mater, Fettes, which charges £28,110 per year. Another was Gordonstoun.

The UK Government reviewed the CEA last year following criticism of its cost. But lobbying of Prime Minister David Cameron reportedly led to only minor changes.

Critics say the CEA is one of a number of subsidies the taxpayer gives to private schools. Due to their charitable status, such schools get an 80% discount on their non-domestic rates and benefit from Gift Aid.

The SNP'S Wilson said: "The continued use of the public purse during these difficult financial times to fund school places at some of the most exclusive educational establishments in Scotland requires investigation."

Labour MP Thomas Docherty said: "Yet again we see the FCO not seeking Best Value for the taxpayer. This is a subsidy for the old-boy network."

An FCO spokesman said the FCO's school fees contribution was capped, with parents paying the remainder. He said the FCO regularly conducted independent reviews of its policy on CEA to ensure the financial support given was "appropriate".