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1124630

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what is the current policy of the Student Loans Company on the surveillance of students’ social media; (2) whether any such policy is publicly available; (3) which social media platforms may fall under this policy; and (4) what measures are in place to oversee this policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Garden of Frognal
uin	HL15498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Student Loans Company (SLC) carries out investigations where fraud is suspected, as well as sample checks to identify possible fraud. The SLC accesses a wide range of publicly available information for the purposes of verifying a customer’s eligibility and detecting and preventing fraud, and this may include publicly available social media content. The SLC only accesses information that is in the public domain; it does not use information sourced from social media in isolation to make a determination on a case; and it does not conduct ongoing monitoring or surveillance of students’ social media.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC provides a privacy notice to all students during their application for finance, which is also available on the SLC’s website. This notice sets out how students’ personal information is processed and used by the company, including that both the information provided by the student during their application and publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms, may be used to detect, investigate and prevent crime including fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC is also in the final stages of drafting a social media acceptable use policy, which covers all aspects of the company’s social media use. This policy is due to be published on the SLC’s website next month.</p><p> </p><p>The policy covers any publicly available social media platform. Currently, the SLC accesses publicly available content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.</p><p> </p><p>The policy will be reviewed at least annually or more often if business requirements, legislation, or regulations change.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-19, the SLC investigated 3,829 cases in relation to potential application fraud (out of a total of 2.8 million applicants and students). A further 5,289 cases were investigated in relation to repayment evasion (out of a total 5.7 million repayers). As part of the process for both preventing application fraud and eliminating repayment evasion, investigators may review publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms. This does not occur in every investigation.</p><p> </p><p>To date in financial year (FY) 2019-20, and in FY 2018-19, no individuals received compensation or redress from the SLC as a result of wrongful decisions by the SLC's Counter Fraud Team. In FY 2017-18, one individual received an ex-gratia payment of £100.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL15499 HL15500 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:50:45 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3842 label Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal

1124631

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals' social media accounts the Student Loans Company has surveilled as part of its approach to combatting fraud.
tabling member printed	Baroness Garden of Frognal
uin	HL15499
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Student Loans Company (SLC) carries out investigations where fraud is suspected, as well as sample checks to identify possible fraud. The SLC accesses a wide range of publicly available information for the purposes of verifying a customer’s eligibility and detecting and preventing fraud, and this may include publicly available social media content. The SLC only accesses information that is in the public domain; it does not use information sourced from social media in isolation to make a determination on a case; and it does not conduct ongoing monitoring or surveillance of students’ social media.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC provides a privacy notice to all students during their application for finance, which is also available on the SLC’s website. This notice sets out how students’ personal information is processed and used by the company, including that both the information provided by the student during their application and publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms, may be used to detect, investigate and prevent crime including fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC is also in the final stages of drafting a social media acceptable use policy, which covers all aspects of the company’s social media use. This policy is due to be published on the SLC’s website next month.</p><p> </p><p>The policy covers any publicly available social media platform. Currently, the SLC accesses publicly available content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.</p><p> </p><p>The policy will be reviewed at least annually or more often if business requirements, legislation, or regulations change.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-19, the SLC investigated 3,829 cases in relation to potential application fraud (out of a total of 2.8 million applicants and students). A further 5,289 cases were investigated in relation to repayment evasion (out of a total 5.7 million repayers). As part of the process for both preventing application fraud and eliminating repayment evasion, investigators may review publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms. This does not occur in every investigation.</p><p> </p><p>To date in financial year (FY) 2019-20, and in FY 2018-19, no individuals received compensation or redress from the SLC as a result of wrongful decisions by the SLC's Counter Fraud Team. In FY 2017-18, one individual received an ex-gratia payment of £100.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL15498 HL15500 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:50:45 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3842 label Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal

1124632

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals have received compensation or redress from the Student Loans Company as a result of wrongful decisions under its approach to combatting fraud.
tabling member printed	Baroness Garden of Frognal
uin	HL15500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Student Loans Company (SLC) carries out investigations where fraud is suspected, as well as sample checks to identify possible fraud. The SLC accesses a wide range of publicly available information for the purposes of verifying a customer’s eligibility and detecting and preventing fraud, and this may include publicly available social media content. The SLC only accesses information that is in the public domain; it does not use information sourced from social media in isolation to make a determination on a case; and it does not conduct ongoing monitoring or surveillance of students’ social media.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC provides a privacy notice to all students during their application for finance, which is also available on the SLC’s website. This notice sets out how students’ personal information is processed and used by the company, including that both the information provided by the student during their application and publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms, may be used to detect, investigate and prevent crime including fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The SLC is also in the final stages of drafting a social media acceptable use policy, which covers all aspects of the company’s social media use. This policy is due to be published on the SLC’s website next month.</p><p> </p><p>The policy covers any publicly available social media platform. Currently, the SLC accesses publicly available content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.</p><p> </p><p>The policy will be reviewed at least annually or more often if business requirements, legislation, or regulations change.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-19, the SLC investigated 3,829 cases in relation to potential application fraud (out of a total of 2.8 million applicants and students). A further 5,289 cases were investigated in relation to repayment evasion (out of a total 5.7 million repayers). As part of the process for both preventing application fraud and eliminating repayment evasion, investigators may review publicly available information, such as that on social media and other public platforms. This does not occur in every investigation.</p><p> </p><p>To date in financial year (FY) 2019-20, and in FY 2018-19, no individuals received compensation or redress from the SLC as a result of wrongful decisions by the SLC's Counter Fraud Team. In FY 2017-18, one individual received an ex-gratia payment of £100.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL15498 HL15499 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:50:45 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3842 label Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal

1123775

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Disclosure of Information
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of non-disclosure agreements by universities.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL15413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Many organisations, including universities, use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and confidentiality agreements legitimately. Universities are autonomous institutions and the Department for Education has not made any specific analysis of their use of NDAs.</p><p>We expect universities to only use NDAs where necessary and appropriate. Any misuse of these agreements to intimidate and silence people is completely unacceptable.</p><p>In a speech on 7 May at the London School of Economics, my hon. Friend, the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, said that non-disclosure clauses should only be used in appropriate circumstances, like protecting valuable research findings should a staff member change jobs. He added that they should not be used to cover up inappropriate behaviour or conduct.</p><p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently consulted on the best way to tighten the laws around NDAs for workers, ensuring workers are clear on their rights and making it clear in law that people cannot be prevented from speaking to the police or reporting a crime regardless of any NDA. Responses to the consultation are currently being analysed.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 13/05/2019 16:50:10 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1123313

registered interest
date	25/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Plagiarism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many essay mill and contract cheating companies have been (1) prosecuted, and (2) closed.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL15369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The use of companies that sell bespoke essays to students who pass the work off as their own undermines the reputation of the education system in this country, and devalues the hard work of those succeeding on their own merit.</p><p> </p><p>While it is not currently a criminal offence to operate an essay mill, we are keeping the need for legislation under review. We are mindful however, that countries who have introduced legislation to make the operation of essay mills illegal, appear to have had limited success in pursuing successful prosecutions using that legislation.</p><p> </p><p>In 2016, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) found there were approximately 17,000 instances of academic offences per year in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Our current focus is on non-legislative measures and we expect educational institutions to do everything in their power to prevent students being tempted by these companies. In a university context, that may be through making sure their students are aware of the severe consequences they face under the terms of their student contract if they are caught cheating. The most recent guidance from the QAA highlights the importance of severe sanctions of suspension or expulsion if ‘extremely serious academic misconduct’ has been discovered.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 March 2019, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education challenged PayPal to stop processing payments for essay mills. PayPal is now working with businesses associated with essay writing services to ensure its platform is not used to facilitate deceptive and fraudulent practices in education. Google and YouTube have also responded by removing hundreds of advertisements for essay writing services and promotional content from their sites.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department published an education technology strategy on 3 April, attached, which challenges technology companies to identify how anti-cheating software can tackle the growth of essay mills and stay one step ahead of the cheats.</p><p> </p><p>We are determined to beat the cheats who threaten the integrity of our higher education system.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 07/05/2019 16:52:05 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL15369_Education_Technology_Strategy.pdf title HL15369_PDF
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1110666

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Disabled Students' Allowances
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since the inception of Disabled Students Allowance to ensure that those setting the criteria for the Disabled Students Allowance are fully informed about normal practice in identifying and supporting those with special educational needs within the school population.
tabling member printed	Lord Addington
uin	HL15130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The arrangements introduced in 2014 through the Children and Families Act for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools and further education do not apply to students on a higher education course. This is because the higher education environment is very different to that in schools and in further education, with an emphasis on independent learning. The role of local authorities does not extend to securing higher education for young people with SEND. Moving into higher education is deemed a successful outcome for those with special educational needs.</p><p>Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) are available only to eligible students studying a designated higher education course. There are no plans to align the eligibility criteria with those used for providing support in the schools sector. However, where a young person has an education, health and care plan the local authority is required to share that information with the DSAs study needs assessor, if that is requested by the young person.</p><p>This ensures that strategies that have already been used successfully in earlier stages of education may be considered within the context of higher education.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL15131 question first answered 25/04/2019 14:53:31 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3453 label Biography information for Lord Addington

1110667

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Disabled Students' Allowances
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that (1) currently, and (2) in the future, those setting the criteria for eligibility for Disabled Students Allowance consult the school sector about making such criteria compatible and in accordance with recommended practice for special education needs and disability within the maintained school system.
tabling member printed	Lord Addington
uin	HL15131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The arrangements introduced in 2014 through the Children and Families Act for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools and further education do not apply to students on a higher education course. This is because the higher education environment is very different to that in schools and in further education, with an emphasis on independent learning. The role of local authorities does not extend to securing higher education for young people with SEND. Moving into higher education is deemed a successful outcome for those with special educational needs.</p><p>Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) are available only to eligible students studying a designated higher education course. There are no plans to align the eligibility criteria with those used for providing support in the schools sector. However, where a young person has an education, health and care plan the local authority is required to share that information with the DSAs study needs assessor, if that is requested by the young person.</p><p>This ensures that strategies that have already been used successfully in earlier stages of education may be considered within the context of higher education.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL15130 question first answered 25/04/2019 14:53:31 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3453 label Biography information for Lord Addington

1110678

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the rates of interest charged on student loans to ensure they properly reflect the Bank of England interest rate.
tabling member printed	Baroness Brady
uin	HL15142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The system for setting interest rates on student loans is set out in The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009, as amended. The Department for Education sets the interest rate as instructed by the regulations.</p><p> </p><p>For post-2012 student loans, the department regularly monitors the interest rates set on student loans against the interest rates prevailing on the market. The most appropriate comparators for undergraduate student loans are the effective interest rates available on unsecured personal loans, as published by the Bank of England (data series CFMBJ77 and CFMBJ94). Both rates continue to be above the maximum interest rate charged on student loans.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 25/04/2019 14:52:48 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4339 label Biography information for Baroness Brady

1110691

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: USA
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 29 March (HL14665), whether they have had, or intend to have, discussions with the government of the United States about the possible effects of incidents of cash-for-student places at United States colleges on the mutual standing of higher education institutions between the UK and the United States.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL15155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>In order to support the standing of our higher education institutions, the UK government regularly engages with other countries to aid the mutual recognition of qualifications. To support this objective, the UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) provides expert advice on behalf of the UK government on the comparability of international qualifications with those of the UK. They have close links with their counterparts in countries around the world, including in the US. Our universities and colleges are supported by the UK NARIC service in making decisions on the eligibility of applicants for places in their courses.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 25/04/2019 14:32:31 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1110143

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Science: Higher Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 5 April (HL14870), what plans they have to ensure more people are encouraged to study entomology and soil science to help address the decline in insect populations and the degradation of soils.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL15111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>As announced in the Industrial Strategy, the government is committed to growing the skills we need for a dynamic and modern economy. This includes developing a technical education system that rivals the best in the world and stands alongside our world-class academic offer. We recognise the importance of investing in the types of skills to secure the scientific grounding and technological aptitude we need to be successful as our economy changes. The government is encouraging more students into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and training at all stages, starting from an early age.</p><p> </p><p>The early years foundation stage sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. This includes helping young children understand the world, living things and the environment, as well as encouraging observations of animals and plants. Teachers are also encouraged to teach children about the natural, built and practical environments, for example, by providing small world equipment and taking care of flowerbeds.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed substantial spending on STEM skills, specifically on mathematics, digital and technical education, to increase the take-up and better teaching of STEM subjects in schools. There are also GCSEs that provide students with background knowledge relevant to agriculture-related studies, such as how humans use, modify and change ecosystems and environments in order to obtain food, energy and water. In GCSE biology, pupils will cover topics such as photosynthesis, gene technology and living organisms, which can include insects. Additionally, we introduced an environmental science A level in 2017, which includes topics such as the conservation of biodiversity.</p><p>As agriculture moves towards a more technical, automated and digital mode, and demand for these skills increases, the sector has the potential to offer exciting and interesting careers. The government has committed to improving STEM careers advice in schools in the careers strategy, attached, which ensures that STEM encounters, such as with employers and apprenticeships, are built into school career programmes by updating school and college statutory guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The government also funds a number of programmes that aim to inspire more young people to study science subjects, such as the STEM Ambassadors programme, and the CREST awards, which engages students in STEM related projects.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 24/04/2019 14:23:59 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL15111_Careers_strategy.pdf title HL15111_Careers_Strategy
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer