Commons Chamber
14:34
Private Business
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Private Business
Order. Order. Order Order. Order the Order. Order the Vice-Chamberlain
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of the household. Message from the King, sir. In reply to loyal and dutiful reply to loyal and dutiful addresses from this house. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Mr. Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of May 2026, for the period ending 30th of April 2030. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Michael Jeffrey CBE to the Office of chair of the National Audit Office from the 10th of January 2027.
I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Richard Lloyd OBE to the office of chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, with effect from 1st of September 2026 for the period ending on the 31st of August 2029. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Howel Williams as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of October 2026 for the period ending 30th of September 2029, that I should appoint Chris Ruane as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1st of November 2026.
For the period ending 31st of October 2030, and that I should reappoint Sheila Ritchie as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of February 2027 for the period ending 31st of January 2031. I will comply with your request.
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of the household. Message from the King, sir. In reply to loyal and dutiful reply to loyal and dutiful addresses from this house. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Mr. Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of May 2026, for the period ending 30th of April 2030. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Michael Jeffrey CBE to the Office of chair of the National Audit Office from the 10th of January 2027.
I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Richard Lloyd OBE to the office of chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, with effect from 1st of September 2026 for the period ending on the 31st of August 2029. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Howel Williams as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of October 2026 for the period ending 30th of September 2029, that I should appoint Chris Ruane as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1st of November 2026.
For the period ending 31st of October 2030, and that I should reappoint Sheila Ritchie as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of February 2027 for the period ending 31st of January 2031. I will comply with your request.
14:35
14:36
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
Yeah yeah yeah yeah. on the death of his father. I am sure the whole House will want to send our best wishes to him and his
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send our best wishes to him and his family at this sad time. Here, right. We now come to questions.
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Secretary of State for education, Tessa Munt. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question number one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, in. I'm sure the whole House will want to send our condolences. Our deepest condolences to the Prime Minister on this saddest of days Minister on this saddest of days and to his wonderful mum, Eileen, his brothers Nick and John, all the grandchildren and the whole family. Mr. speaker, the student loan system we inherited is broken and
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send our best wishes to him and his family at this sad time. Here, right. We now come to questions.
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Secretary of State for education, Tessa Munt. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question number one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, in. I'm sure the whole House will want to send our condolences. Our deepest condolences to the Prime Minister on this saddest of days Minister on this saddest of days and to his wonderful mum, Eileen, his brothers Nick and John, all the grandchildren and the whole family. Mr. speaker, the student loan system we inherited is broken and
14:36
Tessa Munt MP (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat)
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Tessa Munt MP (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat)
unfair, and some graduates feel the weight of it more strongly. Going to university remains a fantastic to university remains a fantastic opportunity, but I've been very clear that this issue is at the top of my in-tray, and I've been very of my in-tray, and I've been very clear on my views about it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I associate myself with the comments of the myself with the comments of the Secretary of State? And I'm sure that all of us on these benches feel deeply sad for the Prime feel deeply sad for the Prime Minister.
Tuition fees continue to rise while plan two repayment threshold stays frozen until 2030, and if it's frozen until 2031, it will align with the minimum wage, leaving students facing higher premiums for up to 40 years. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are hit by sky high rents and living costs, and face a brutal job market. Young constituents tell me they can't trust the fee system. When a change of government can mean a change to the terms of their loans. So will the Minister commit to me to update the thresholds, to restore the thresholds, to restore maintenance grants and create an independent watchdog, so that the government cannot keep moving the goalposts? goalposts?
Tuition fees continue to rise while plan two repayment threshold stays frozen until 2030, and if it's frozen until 2031, it will align with the minimum wage, leaving students facing higher premiums for up to 40 years. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are hit by sky high rents and living costs, and face a brutal job market. Young constituents tell me they can't trust the fee system. When a change of government can mean a change to the terms of their loans. So will the Minister commit to me to update the thresholds, to restore the thresholds, to restore maintenance grants and create an independent watchdog, so that the government cannot keep moving the goalposts? goalposts?
14:38
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
Yes, sir. Can I just reassure her that we absolutely do keep these things under review? I have said it's top of my in-tray and it remains. So. I'm acutely aware of the cost of living pressures that many graduates in their 20s and early 30s, particularly those on plan two, are under, and it is affecting their decisions about work and life. their decisions about work and life. And that's why this issue is one that I'll continue to push at, and hopefully I'll have something more to say soon.
14:38
Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)
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Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)
Luke Charters thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I also pass on my condolences to the Prime Minister and his family? Mr. speaker, I would declare that I am a plan to borrower myself, and I know firsthand how unclear the loans were at the time. Would my hon. Friend, right hon. Friend say little more about how the government's clearing up the guidance given to borrowers, and how she wishes to overhaul the student loans company?
14:39
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
Well, can I thank him and thank him for all his campaigning on this issue, which I've followed closely? He's absolutely right. In response to the excellent report of the Treasury Select Committee, we have committed to much clearer guidance for students before they make decisions about going to university, so that it can be much clearer about how the student loan system will work and possibly affect them in the future. And I think this is a really important piece of work. a really important piece of work.
And can I also just say that we have capped the maximum interest rates this year, and we are reintroducing maintenance grants.
And can I also just say that we have capped the maximum interest rates this year, and we are reintroducing maintenance grants.
14:39
14:39
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I associate my remarks with the Secretary of State regarding the Secretary of State regarding the Prime Minister's father, I, despite previously calling the student loan system egregious and saying reviewing the system is a top priority. She just said it's at the top of her entry. The Treasury response to the Treasury Select Committee rejected a series of recommendations that would have alleviated some of the burden on planned to student loans. So I asked Secretary of State what exactly is her plan to fix the student loan system?
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Well, as I've said, you know, I determined that we get these things determined that we get these things right. And the two things can be true at the same time that I feel that the system is unfair and in that the system is unfair and in need of reform, whilst also at the same time, we have to see that in the context of the wider public the context of the wider public finances and all the pressures and priorities that are falling on it.
But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, I do feel it's slightly audacious of the party opposite. You know, they introduced the plan to system they've thrown froze the threshold for times when they were in for times when they were in government. They're not independent campaigners on this issue today. It now falls in my lap to actually now falls in my lap to actually deal with it. And I will do that. Unlike the party opposite Christine please.
Secretary stay. will answer questions two and six together. Firstly, I'd like to thank Alan Milburn for his commitment to our young people. This is one of our country's biggest challenges, and I agree superpower.
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Well, as I've said, you know, I determined that we get these things determined that we get these things right. And the two things can be true at the same time that I feel that the system is unfair and in that the system is unfair and in need of reform, whilst also at the same time, we have to see that in the context of the wider public the context of the wider public finances and all the pressures and priorities that are falling on it.
But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, I do feel it's slightly audacious of the party opposite. You know, they introduced the plan to system they've thrown froze the threshold for times when they were in for times when they were in government. They're not independent campaigners on this issue today. It now falls in my lap to actually now falls in my lap to actually deal with it. And I will do that. Unlike the party opposite Christine please.
Secretary stay. will answer questions two and six together. Firstly, I'd like to thank Alan Milburn for his commitment to our young people. This is one of our country's biggest challenges, and I agree superpower.
14:41
Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)
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Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)
Christine Jardine. comments, Mr. Speaker, and those of the Secretary of State figures quoted today in the BBC suggest that as many as 1 in 5 of young people in education may not be attending regularly at college courses, so the situation may actually be even worse than outlined in the report. And while I welcome the Secretary of State's commitment to a fundamental encouragement of technical education, does she think that we are at the stage where we are approaching a crisis, and what we need to do is rethink exactly what it is? We will engage our young people in education that they are
14:42
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
not getting from it, what they need to feel prepared for their future life, and how we should go about life, and how we should go about that. Lowestoft well, can I first of all, thank my hon. Friend. She's, I think, one of the highest I think, one of the highest contributors to education questions, as she was when I was Leader of the House and business questions. And I House and business questions. And I look forward to continuing debating these issues with her. She's absolutely right.
Attendance, absolutely right. Attendance, inclusion and critical engagement are also pivotal to to this issue. And that's why we do need to look at not just the curriculum and qualifications that young people can have, but ensuring that they have the passport that they need for life and they are engaged and wanting to go to school or college every day.
Attendance, absolutely right. Attendance, inclusion and critical engagement are also pivotal to to this issue. And that's why we do need to look at not just the curriculum and qualifications that young people can have, but ensuring that they have the passport that they need for life and they are engaged and wanting to go to school or college every day.
14:42
John Grady MP (Glasgow East, Labour)
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John Grady MP (Glasgow East, Labour)
John Grey. businesses in Glasgow East who are desperate and determined to give young people apprenticeships, opening the door to a lifetime of opportunities. But what many of them told me was that they had to give basic training on maths to help young people thrive in jobs like plumbing, joinery and welding. And they rightly think that schools in Scotland and Glasgow should be teaching this. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that much more Friend agree with me that much more needs to be done in Scotland to improve the teaching of maths in schools? Yeah, so? schools? Yeah, so?
14:43
Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
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Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )
Well, absolutely. Last week's Pisa results show the importance of those foundations in English, maths and science, which over a 25 or 30 year consensus, we've really motored on in England. Scotland, however, not so well. And he will know that Scotland's education system used to be the envy of the world. That's not the case today world. That's not the case today and I think it's about time the Scottish Government really took a leaf out of England's book. Yeah. leaf out of England's book.
Yeah.
Yeah.
14:44
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
Rishi Sunak thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Secretary of State for her commitment to this issue and indeed, the hon. Member for Glasgow Glasgow East focus on maths. On Friday I visited Allerton Steel, a steel fabricator in Northallerton. They do a great job providing high quality apprenticeships for young people every year, regardless of the cycle. I was lucky to meet David, Oliver