On the other hand, people can believe experts without being experts. Perhaps the French parliamentarians just listen better.

Not trying to debate club you here, but it could also be that higher educational attainment creates parliamentarians that can listen.

Another thought, in a highly educated populace, the path length between any person and someone highly skilled would be much shorter. Everyone would know someone who knows someone who is an expert in a subject. So it would be much easier for someone to seek and get assistance.