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<p>As my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have
both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected
by COVID-19.</p><p>My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, has written
to all higher education (HE) providers to explain the importance of HE institutions
operating a non-eviction policy so that no student is required to leave halls if their
contract has ended, if their rental agreement does not cover holiday periods or if
they are unable to pay their rent. This is particularly important in the case of international
students, care leavers and students estranged from their families.</p><p>In her letters,
my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, also emphasised the need for
HE providers to consider practical support to ensure that students who remain on campus
can access sufficient food, medical and cleaning supplies, along with mental health
support.</p><p>Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards
their living costs for the remainder of the current 2019/20 academic year.</p><p>We
have worked closely with the Office for Students to enable providers to draw upon
existing funding to increase hardship funds and support disadvantaged students impacted
by COVID-19. As a result, providers will be able to use the funding, worth around
£23 million per month for April and May, towards student hardship funds.</p><p>Students
with a part-time employment contract should speak to their employer about the Coronavirus
Job Retention Scheme, which has been set up to help pay staff wages and keep people
in employment. This can be accessed from: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses</a>.</p><p>We
have also asked that HE providers pay particular attention to the additional financial
hardships that are being faced by student staff who have been reliant on income from
campus-based jobs at this time.</p><p>The government encourages universities and private
hall providers to be fair in their decisions about rent charges for this period.</p>
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