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<p>The Government does not plan to change the funding arrangements for medical and
dental students who are already on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
student support system for the first four years of their degrees.</p><p> </p><p>A
preliminary Equality Analysis was published alongside the public consultation document
on the 7 April 2016. This document provides the assessment of the potential effect
of the replacement of National Health Service bursaries by student loans for all the
protected characteristics of the Public Sector Equality Duty (Section 149 of the Equality
Act 2010).</p><p> </p><p>The Equality Analysis and the government consultation can
be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-how-healthcare-education-is-funded"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-how-healthcare-education-is-funded</a></p><p>
</p><p>As with all policy development, to inform decision-making, Ministers were briefed
internally by relevant Departmental officials, including nursing profession leads.</p><p>
</p><p>The Department received joint correspondence from the Council of Deans of Health
and Universities UK about a number of issues relating to healthcare education funding
in England. A copy of the letter is attached.</p><p> </p><p>The Department received
a number of representations from organisations, including Royal Colleges, professional
bodies and representatives of universities, about a number of issues relating to healthcare
student education funding in England including a potential move from the current system
of funding to student loans.</p>
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