Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

With reference to the UN report entitled A/HRC/59/23: From economy of occupation to economy of genocide - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, published on 16 June 2025, whether she has had discussions with the University of Edinburgh on the report.

Since education is a devolved matter, no meetings have taken place between my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and the University of Edinburgh concerning the United Nations report.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to question 57351 on Students: Loans; what assessment her Department has made on the reason for the gender difference in the number of borrowers whose loans have increased despite making regular payments.

The previous government considered gender differences in lifetime repayments, including detail on changes to average lifetime repayments, when introducing Plan 5. The full equality impact assessment was produced and published in February 2022 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.Student loans are not like commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. Borrowers will be liable to repay after leaving study only when earning over the relevant student loan repayment threshold.The system is designed to ensure that those who benefit financially from higher education contribute towards the cost of it. This is why repayments are linked to income and not the loan balance, with regular repayments increasing with borrower income. Those earning below the student loan repayment threshold repay nothing.Crucially, at the end of the loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends, or in case of death or disability, at no detriment to the borrower. This subsidy is a conscious investment in the skills capacity, people and economy of this country.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the legal framework on the duty of care owed by (a) higher education institutions and (b) associated students’ unions to students.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Clapham and Brixton Hill to the answer of 08 January 2025 to Question 21514.

What guidance her Department has issued to (a) universities and (b) students’ unions on (i) conducting and (ii) the oversight of risk assessments for student-led (A) extracurricular and (B) off-campus activities.

Risk assessments are a legal requirement, and it is crucial for higher education (HE) providers and their affiliated student groups to comply with existing legislation and relevant guidance. This includes adhering to the Health and Safety Executive's guidelines for schools and education settings, any National Union of Students guidance and HE provider policies. Ensuring that risk assessments are conducted appropriately is essential to managing risks associated with student-led activities. Each HE provider should establish its own guidance and procedures to ensure compliance with these requirements.

What plans her Department has to provide sustainable funding for community-based support centres working with children and young adults (a) at risk of exclusion, (b) living in poverty and (c) experiencing poor mental health and wellbeing.

This government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. Our Plan for Change will strengthen and join up family services, including continuing to invest in the family hubs and start for life programmes.We are investing £126 million in 2025/26 to build up the family hubs and start for life programmes, to provide access to vital services to improve the health, education and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families.Family hubs are focussed on universal, preventative services, targeting disadvantaged families. They can also serve as a non-stigmatising gateway for more targeted, intensive, support delivered by local family help services and other interventions. 75 local authorities on the programme have opened more than 400 family hubs. These are based in some of the most deprived areas in the country.The government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. By April 2026, we estimate that 60% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England will be covered by an MHST, up from 52% in April 2025. The government will also recruit 8,500 mental health staff to treat children and adults, and open new Young Futures hubs with access to mental health support workers.

What steps her Department is taking to provide financial support for children’s centres (a) in general and (b) serving (i) disadvantaged and (ii) minority ethnic communities.

Local authorities have a duty under Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there are sufficient children’s centres to meet the needs of local families, including disadvantaged families and those from minority ethnic communities. Part 1 of the Act can be read in full here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1.Funding for children’s centres is made available through the local government finance settlement. In addition, other government funding, including that for public health, may also be used locally to support services delivered wholly, or in part, through children’s centres.The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give every child the best start in life. Delivering this will require strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood. This includes continuing to invest in and build up Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme, which build on the lessons from Sure Start children’s centres.75 local authorities with some of the highest levels of deprivation have received funding through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and there are now more than 400 Family Hubs open across those local authorities. The department is investing a further £126 million in the 2025/26 financial year to give every child the best start in life and deliver on the Plan for Change. Future funding decisions are subject to the multi-year Spending Review.There are three Family Hubs in the Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency that have been funded by the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, as listed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-family-hub-sites.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what comparative assessment she has made of the number of borrowers with increasing loan balances in (a) financial year 2024-25 and (b) previous financial years.

The number of borrowers whose loan balance has increased between the start and end of the financial year for the most recent four years is:2024/25: 2,409,2552023/24: 2,317,6672022/23: 1,805,4262021/22: 1,313,137 These figures cover Student Finance England loan borrowers only, whereas the previous number provided to Question 50912 included borrowers from all UK funding bodies. These numbers include all borrowers whose loan balance has increased, regardless of the number of payments they have made across the financial year, whereas Question 50912 included only borrowers who made at least four payments across the financial year. These figures cover Plan 2, 5 and 3 undergraduate and postgraduate loan borrowers funded by Student Finance England. For each of the financial years provided, the figure was generated by comparing borrowers’ loan balances between 1 April at the start of the financial year and 31 March at the end of the financial year. At the end of a borrower’s loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off is a government subsidy and a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the student loan system does not entrench socioeconomic disparities for (a) first-generation university students and (b) students from lower-income households.

This government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. The student finance system removes upfront financial barriers so that everyone with the ability and desire to enter higher education (HE) can do so.All eligible students, regardless of their household income, can apply for up-front fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition. Unlike commercial loans, student loans carry significant protections for borrowers. Monthly repayments are linked to income, not to the amount borrowed, and individuals are only required to make their contribution to the system when they are earning over the repayment threshold.The government has announced that maximum loans and grants for living and other costs will increase by 3.1% for the 2025/26 academic year, with the highest levels of support paid to students from the lowest income families. A 3.1% increase is in line with forecast inflation based on the RPIX inflation index.The department aims to publish our plans for HE reform as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy White Paper in the summer, and we will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of persistent student loan debt on levels of social mobility among (a) graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds and (b) other graduates.

The system is designed to ensure that those who benefit financially from higher education contribute towards the cost of it. This is why repayments are linked to income and not the loan balance, with monthly repayments increasing with borrower income.Student loans are not like commercial loans, as they carry significant protections for borrowers. Those earning below the repayment threshold repay nothing, and at the end of the loan term, any outstanding debt is cancelled. This subsidy is a conscious investment in the skills capacity, people and economy of this country.Furthermore, student loan balances do not appear on borrower credit records.A full equality impact assessment of how student loan reforms may affect graduates, including detail on changes to average lifetime repayments under Plan 5, was produced and published in February 2022 under the previous government and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, whether her Department has considered (a) changes to interest rates, (b) changes to repayment thresholds and (c) other policy changes to help prevent loan balances from increasing despite regular repayments.

The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. The student finance system removes upfront financial barriers so that everyone with the ability and desire to enter higher education can do so.Student loan debt is not like other debt. Monthly repayments depend on earnings, not on interest rates or the amount borrowed. No-one who earns under the student loan repayment threshold is required to make any repayments. At the end of the loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy. No commercial loan offers this level of protection.Furthermore, since August 2023, loans for new undergraduate borrowers have been issued on Plan 5 terms. These have an interest rate set in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation. This means Plan 5 borrowers will not repay more than they originally borrow over the lifetime of their loans, when adjusted for inflation.The department will set out longer-term plans for higher education reform as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper this summer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what steps her Department takes to help ensure that borrowers are adequately informed about (a) how interest accrues on student loans and (b) the potential impact of making minimum repayments.

When a borrower takes out a student loan, they are provided with the terms and conditions. These clearly set out the repayment thresholds, when a borrower will start repaying, how their repayments will be calculated, how interest is applied, and when the loan term ends. Details around the protections available for borrowers, including the fact that any outstanding balance will be written off at the end of the loan term, are also included. All student loan borrowers must confirm that they have read and understood the terms and conditions prior to signing the loan agreement.Access to this information up front ensures that prospective students can weigh up the likely overall costs and likely benefits to them of undertaking higher education, alongside the financial cost of repayment across the length of the loan period.For those who may still be unclear about the long-term commitment of a student loan, there is a range of guidance on student loans available from the Student Loans Company.Student loan borrowers may make additional, voluntary repayments at any time, if they wish to reduce their loan balance sooner or repay their loan in full. They will need to consider their personal circumstances and the fact that any outstanding loan balance, including interest accrued, will be written off at the end of the loan term. Voluntary repayments cannot be refunded.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what demographic data her Department holds on borrowers whose loan balances have increased.

Below is a table of the number of borrowers whose loan balance has increased between the start and end of the financial year 2024/25, broken down by age group and sex. This table covers Student Finance England loan borrowers only, whereas the previous number provided to Question 50912 included borrowers from all UK funding bodies.Age groupSex25 and under26 - 35 36 - 45 46 and overFemale279,484806,398235,59897,671Male204,496603,617132,56349,426 These figures cover Plan 2, 5 and 3 undergraduate and postgraduate loan borrowers funded by Student Finance England. It has been generated by comparing borrowers’ loan balances on 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. These numbers include all borrowers whose loan balance has increased, regardless of the number of payments they have made across the financial year. There were a small number of borrowers (<5) for whom age and sex were unknown. These borrowers have been suppressed. At the end of a borrower’s loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off, a government subsidy, is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

What steps she is taking to ensure that schools in Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency receive adequate resources to meet the needs of (a) all pupils and (b) those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Core school funding is distributed via the dedicated schools grant (DSG) to local authorities. Local authorities (Lambeth for Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency) then set their own local formulae which determine individual school allocations.Through the DSG, Lambeth Council is receiving £241 million for mainstream schools in financial year 2025/26. This represents an increase of 1.9% per pupil compared to 2024/25 (excluding growth and falling rolls funding).Mainstream schools in Lambeth attract £8,138 per pupil on average (excluding growth and falling rolls funding) in financial year 2025/26. From their budgets, schools are expected to meet the costs of additional support for their pupils with special educational needs, up to £6,000 per pupil per annum. Most pupils will require support costing less than that. For costs greater than that threshold, schools can access funding from the local authority’s high needs budget.Through the DSG, Lambeth Council is receiving a high needs funding allocation of £71 million in the 2025/26 financial year. This national funding formula (NFF) allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.Funding for the 2026/27 financial year and beyond has not yet been determined and is subject to the multi-year spending review.

If her Department will provide additional support to schools in areas with reductions in per pupil funding.

The national funding formula is used to allocate core schools funding to each local authority through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Local authorities then create their own local funding formulae to distribute that funding among the schools in their respective areas.Through the DSG, Lambeth local authority is receiving £241.1 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents an increase of 1.9% per pupil compared to 2024/25 (excluding growth and falling rolls funding).No local authority has seen a reduction in per pupil funding through the schools block of the DSG from the 2024/25 to 2025/26 financial years.Overall core schools funding is increasing to £65.3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, up from £61.6 billion in 2024/25. This includes additional funding announced on 22 May alongside the teacher pay award.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of student loan debt on young people’s ability to (a) save for a home and (b) contribute to the economy.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that increases in student loan debts do not contribute to intergenerational wealth inequality.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a publicly funded model of higher education with reduced reliance on individual debt financing.

The higher education (HE) sector needs a secure financial footing. After seven years of frozen fee caps under the previous government, the government took the difficult decision to increase maximum tuition fee limits for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of inflation.  We also recognise the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had on students, and are increasing maximum maintenance loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of inflation.Student loans have significant protections for borrowers and are subsidised by the government. For lower earners, who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off at the end of the loan term. This write-off is the government’s subsidy, and it is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.The government also provides funding for HE through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) to support teaching and students in HE, including expensive-to-deliver subjects, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers. The total recurrent SPG funding to be distributed by the Office for Students for the 2024/25 academic year is £1,426 million.

What assessment her Department has made of the (a) affordability and (b) long-term sustainability of the student loans repayment system for (i) low and (ii) middle-income graduates.

It is important that we have a sustainable higher education (HE) funding system that provides opportunities for all, supports students, and maintains the world-leading status of our universities. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. We are determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students, and the government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. We will set out this government’s longer term plan for HE reform by summer 2025.Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable student loan repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest. If a borrower’s income drops, so does the amount they repay. If income is below the relevant student loan repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, repayments stop.Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends at no detriment to the borrower. This protects lower and lower-middle earners in particular. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.A detailed impact assessment for the current student loan system is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.To consider both students and taxpayers, and ensure the real value of the loans over the repayment term, interest rates on student loans are linked to inflation by being set in reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI), from the previous March, and applied annually on 1 September until 31 August. The next annual update will be based on the RPI from March 2025 and will apply from 1 September 2025.As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on post-2012 loans are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans.

If she will make it her policy to cap student loan interest rates in line with the Bank of England base rate.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

What steps her Department is taking to review (a) Plan 2 and (b) Plan 5 student loan repayment terms, in the context of decreases in levels of inflation.

It is important that we have a sustainable higher education (HE) funding system that provides opportunities for all, supports students, and maintains the world-leading status of our universities. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. We are determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students, and the government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. We will set out this government’s longer term plan for HE reform by summer 2025.Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable student loan repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest. If a borrower’s income drops, so does the amount they repay. If income is below the relevant student loan repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, repayments stop.Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends at no detriment to the borrower. This protects lower and lower-middle earners in particular. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.A detailed impact assessment for the current student loan system is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.To consider both students and taxpayers, and ensure the real value of the loans over the repayment term, interest rates on student loans are linked to inflation by being set in reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI), from the previous March, and applied annually on 1 September until 31 August. The next annual update will be based on the RPI from March 2025 and will apply from 1 September 2025.As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on post-2012 loans are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans.