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1472158

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional mental health support for university students on placement years.
	tabling member constituency	Truro and Falmouth
	tabling member printed	Cherilyn Mackrory
	uin	22535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and have a responsibility to ensure students are well supported during their studies, so they can fully participate in their university experience and achieve outcomes to progress to quality employment. HE providers are not only experts in their student population, but are also best placed to identify the needs of their students, including students undertaking placements as part of their studies.</p><p> </p><p>The mental health and wellbeing of young people is a priority for the government. We continue to work closely with the higher education (HE) sector to promote and fund effective practice. Through strategic guidance to the Office for Students (OfS), we asked that it distributes £15 million of funding in FY the 2022/23 financial year to give additional support for transitions from school/college to university, and through targeting funding to support partnership working with NHS services to provide pathways of care for students. The OfS funded Student Space, which provides a dedicated online platform for students providing vital mental health and wellbeing, and resources and is leading work to establish and share ‘what works’ across the sector.</p><p> </p><p>The University Mental Health Charter, led by Student Minds and backed by the government, brings together universities to drive up standards of practice in mental health provision across the HE sector. The Charter identifies support for students on placements as a principle of good practice, encouraging HE providers to ensure targeted support for students on placement and on professional programmes, who may require more in-depth preparation and specific interventions. I have made clear my ambition for all HE providers to sign up to the Charter programme within 5 years.</p><p> </p><p>Preventing suicide and self-harm in our student population continues to be a key concern, including through supporting the suicide safer universities framework led by Universities UK (UUK) and Papyrus. UUK have worked with stakeholders to develop a checklist which ensures better coordination of support between HE providers and placement providers, including mental health quality assurance of placements. This is due to be published in late July.</p><p> </p><p>The OfS will allocate up to £3 million of funding towards developing stronger partnership working with NHS services. Alongside my hon Friend, the member for Chichester, I chaired a summit in June to launch this work and ensure that the department and the Department of Health and Social Care work together to achieve this common goal.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 05/07/2022 14:53:21 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4758 label Biography information for Cherilyn Mackrory

1472001

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	English Language: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help UK (a) universities and (b) colleges provide free English language tuition to Ukrainian refugees.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22475
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>Ukrainians aged 19 and over and their family members settled under the Home Office Ukraine schemes in the UK can access training to gain the skills they need to move on with their lives. This includes immediate eligibility for provision funded through the Adult Education Budget, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and level 3 free courses for jobs offer.</p><p> </p><p>Ukrainians aged 19 and above will be able to access adult education, including ESOL, by contacting their local authority or further education college directly. The college will be able to confirm what courses are available and when.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, the Open University has published a range of helpful resources for Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK to learn English. More information can be found at: <a href="https://www.open.edu/openlearn/supporting-ukrainians" target="_blank">https://www.open.edu/openlearn/supporting-ukrainians</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Students has been delivering up to £4 million of additional support, as instructed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to higher education (HE) providers in England to assist students from Ukraine whose financial means have been impacted by events in Ukraine.</p><p> </p><p>The department is also working in close partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education to facilitate entrance exams for Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK who wish to continue their HE education in Ukrainian at their Ukrainian universities, remotely.</p><p> </p><p>Ukrainians aged 16 to 19 living in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme, and under Homes for Ukraine scheme are eligible to enrol as a student in a 16-19 provider, including colleges. Providers may ask to see evidence of their eligibility. 16-19 study programmes can include ESOL courses or other English tuition, depending on the needs of the individual student.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 05/07/2022 14:51:26 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1484334

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy to increase the size of student loans in line with the rate of inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	26873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The department is currently reviewing options for uprating maximum grants and loans for the 2023/24 academic year.</p><p>Maximum grants and loans for living costs were increased by 3.1% this academic year, and the department has announced that they will increase by a further 2.3% in the 2022/23 academic year.</p><p>In addition, we are freezing maximum tuition fees for the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By the 2024/25 academic year, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven years.</p><p>The 2022/23 financial year guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) confirms universities will continue to be able to support students in hardship through the student premium. Ministers’ Strategic Priorities Grant guidance letter to the OfS asks that the OfS looks to protect the student premium in cash terms for the 2022/23 financial year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 04/07/2022 16:55:04 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1473245

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is taking steps to help support higher education institutions in London affected by the the removal of the London weighting element of the Strategic Priorities Grant in the context of rising inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	24661
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.</p><p>We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.</p><p>As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf</a>. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan grouped question UIN 24660 question first answered 04/07/2022 16:31:08 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1473244

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the London weighting element of the Strategic Priorities Grant on London universities in the context of rising inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	24660
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.</p><p>We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.</p><p>As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf</a>. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan grouped question UIN 24661 question first answered 04/07/2022 16:31:08 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1471999

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: Refugees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help support Ukrainian refugees who started a university course in Ukraine to complete their studies in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22473
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The department is continuing to work closely with the education sector and across government to ensure that students are supported and have a range of options available to them during this difficult time.</p><p>We know that universities in Ukraine are striving to maintain the education of their students under extremely challenging conditions. We are therefore encouraging them to contact their education provider in Ukraine, to understand what support is available to them to study remotely. This may be particularly beneficial to students nearing the end of their course.</p><p>Students may also wish to explore their options with higher education (HE) providers in England. The department encourages them to engage in conversations with their preferred provider to understand the full range of options available specifically to them. I have urged institutions in England to consider students' circumstances sensitively and to show as much flexibility as possible when considering students' applications.</p><p>To support those who are granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme, introduced by the Home Office, we have extended access to HE student support, home fee status, tuition fee caps, advanced learner loans and 19+ funding allocations. This ensures Ukrainians who have been affected by the war in Ukraine can access support on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees.</p><p>The Student Loans Company will also treat students who were living in England before leaving to study in Ukraine, and who join a course on return to the UK, as being temporary absent when assessing the requirement for three years’ ordinary residence in the UK or Crown Dependencies prior to study. Students should contact Student Finance England, or other relevant funding bodies if individuals lived in one of the devolved administrations prior to study in Ukraine, for further details.</p><p>Additionally, the department is working closely with the Ukrainian Government and UK HE Sector to help facilitate Ukrainian HE entrance exams this summer for students from Ukraine.</p><p>The Office for Students has been delivering up to £4million of additional support to students from Ukraine whose financial means have been impacted by events in Ukraine.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 04/07/2022 11:30:36 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1472108

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Disadvantaged
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to guarantee places in higher education settings for disadvantaged students.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
	tabling member printed	Paula Barker
	uin	22585
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>Access to higher education (HE) should be based on a student’s attainment and their ability to succeed, rather than their background.</p><p>In November 2021, the department issued guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) to refocus the Access and Participation Regime. We asked them to create a system that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring students can make the right choices, accessing and succeeding on high-quality courses which are valued by employers and lead to good graduate employment. We have appointed John Blake as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the OfS, and he will play a pivotal role in driving this work forward.</p><p>It is very important that providers focus on supporting students to see good outcomes, not just getting more disadvantaged students through the door, this will ensure that HE remains an engine of true social mobility. We know that prior attainment is a key determinant of successful participation in HE, and that is why we are asking universities to take on a more direct role in driving up the standards in schools.</p><p>The department also recently consulted on the design of a new National State Scholarship, worth up to £75 million, which will help the highest achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome barriers to attending and succeeding on the course that is right for them.</p><p>Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access a world-class education remains a top priority, and we expect universities to do all they can to help disadvantaged students. This year, more students from disadvantaged backgrounds went to university than ever before.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/07/2022 14:59:47 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4828 label Biography information for Paula Barker

1472237

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: Consultants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
	uin	22552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>Consultancy expenditure is published in the department’s annual report and accounts, available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports</a>. <br> <br> Although the audit is still ongoing, figures for the 2021/22 financial year are included. As a result, this value may be subject to change.</p><p> </p><p>The figures below cover the entirety of the departmental group, including executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, for the years specified:</p><ul><li>2021/22: £6.8 million (unaudited)</li><li>2020/21: £8.7 million</li><li>2019/20: £12.7 million</li><li>2018/19: £13.1 million</li><li>2017/18: £14.6 million.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/07/2022 14:58:06 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1472262

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Student Numbers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students started an undergraduate degree course at each higher education institution in England in each year since 2017; and what proportion of those students had left that course by (a) Christmas and (b) Easter of the first year.
	tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
	uin	22397
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>Official Statistics on student retention are published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as part of their UK Performance Indicators.</p><p>For the academic years 2014/15 to 2019/20, the following link: <a href="https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation/table-t3" target="_blank">https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation/table-t3</a> shows the number of undergraduate entrants[1] at each English higher education provider and their associated non-continuation rates.</p><p>These non-continuation rates are defined as the percentage of first year students who do not continue their studies after 12 months (full-time students) or 24 months (part-time students). Rates specific to leaving courses by (a) Christmas and (b) Easter are not published by HESA.</p><p>Whilst the department holds HESA Student data from which it could derive the information requested on how many students started an undergraduate degree course at each higher education institution since 2017, the information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p>[1] Who did not leave within 50 days of commencing study.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/07/2022 14:56:47 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1472017

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: Speeches
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Ministerial speeches published on his Department's website, whether he has made a recent assessment of the accuracy of transcripts that are labelled as transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered, as opposed to check against delivery.
	tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
	tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
	uin	22408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>Wherever possible a speech transcript will be checked by a member of the department’s communications team or other members of the private office staff who are attending the speaking event, or watching it if it is being broadcast.</p><p>This will then be published on the department’s website as ‘as delivered’. Where it is not possible for this verification to take place, the last cleared transcript is published with ‘check against delivery’.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/07/2022 14:55:14 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson