Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Financial Support for Students

Monday 12 June 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister met with UK representatives to discuss financial support for students amid cost of living increases.
  • Government will spend around 37 billion on support for students and families this year.
  • Tuition fees will be frozen for the sixth consecutive year to provide better value for students.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Education Economy
Context

Increases in the cost of living have raised concerns about financial support for school and higher education students. The question arises from discussions with devolved administrations on this issue.

Question

Whether she has had recent discussions with her counterparts in the devolved Administrations on financial support for (a) school and (b) higher education students in the context of increases in the cost of living.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

This is a timely question, as just last Thursday I met representatives from across the UK to discuss that very topic. In England, we have put in place significant support to help students and families alike with the cost of living. This year alone, the Government will spend around £37 billion on cost of living support. We provide free school meals to more than one third of children in education and we have boosted our student premium this year, spending £276 million.

Answered
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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

A study by the Food Foundation shows that 80% of the English public support universal free school meals. The Scottish Government have committed to providing these meals.

Question

Expanding free school meals to all children in universal credit households is not controversial. New data from the Food Foundation shows that 80% of the English general public support it. The Scottish Government have already committed to providing universal free school meals for all primary children. Why is the Secretary of State's Department fuelling the poverty cycle and failing to give deprived children the very best start in life?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I take my role of giving children the very best start in life incredibly seriously. This Government spend more than £1 billion annually delivering free school meals to pupils in schools. More than one third of pupils in schools in England receive a free meal, which, incidentally, compares with one sixth under Labour in 2010. We must also ensure that students are supported in school holidays; that is why we have introduced the holiday activities and food programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Why not expanding free school meals to all children in universal credit households

How: We Take My Role Seriously, Spending £1 Billion Annually On Free School Meals

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Q3 David Evennett Con
Education
Context

My right hon. Friend announced in January that tuition fees would be frozen for the sixth year in a row, which is welcome news for students and the country.

Question

I welcomed my right hon. Friend's announcement in January that tuition fees would be frozen for the sixth year in a row. That is welcome news for students and the country. Does she agree that that will deliver better value for students and rightly keep down the cost of higher education across the United Kingdom?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are always committed to ensuring that students get good value for money, that they have a valuable experience at university and that they get the qualifications they need for the future. In addition to keeping tuition fees flat, we have introduced and boosted degree apprenticeships—as my right hon. Friend knows, I am a huge fan of those—where, if people want to earn and learn, they can get their degrees paid for by their apprenticeship.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Whether freezing tuition fees delivers better value for students

How: We Are Always Committed, Keeping Tuition Fees Flat

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