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Written Question
Students: Loans
Tuesday 16th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review (1) the application of compound interest, (2) the length of repayment periods, and (3) the overall operation of the student loans system.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. We set out our plan for higher education (HE) reform through the Post-16 education and skills white paper, published on 29 September.

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.

Scheduled Event - Tuesday 2nd December - Add to calendar
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Lords - Oral questions - Main Chamber
Adults with learning and communication difficulties: online communications for access to public services
MP: Lord Cashman
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 02 Dec 2025
Public Services: Online Communications

"My Lords, I thank the Minister for the reply, but the reality, I am afraid, is very different. The negative effects on vulnerable people and people with learning difficulties accessing services online is deeply problematic. Many do not have access to the internet. Some cannot read or write. Others simply …..."
Lord Cashman - View Speech

View all Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Public Services: Online Communications
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 02 Dec 2025
Public Services: Online Communications

"To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that adults with learning and communication difficulties are not left isolated or disconnected because of increasing reliance on online communications for access to public services, particularly within the NHS...."
Lord Cashman - View Speech

View all Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Public Services: Online Communications
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 01 Dec 2025
AIDS

"My Lords, I refer to my registered interests, particularly as a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust. Today, on World AIDS Day, we remember those, some of them friends, whom we lost to HIV-related illnesses, and how very different the world might have been had they survived those dark times. …..."
Lord Cashman - View Speech

View all Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: AIDS
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 20 Nov 2025
Asylum Policy

"My Lords, the status quo might not be where we want, but where the Government are moving to causes me some deep concern, not least about integration and the dehumanisation of migrants and people seeking sanctuary. I want to bring to the Minister’s attention some interesting polling by HOPE not …..."
Lord Cashman - View Speech

View all Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Asylum Policy
Written Question
Cancer: Cornwall
Thursday 20th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that sarcoma patients in Cornwall, currently facing journeys of hundreds of miles for medical treatment, receive the appropriate medical and therapeutic support within that region.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has published a national service specification, covering both bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The specification requires close working between sarcoma services and other National Health Service partners, co-ordinated by Sarcoma Advisory Groups, to improve care pathways.

Work is underway across both bone and soft tissue sarcoma provision to ensure that cancer care providers meet national service standards and improve care to patients across the country, including Cornwall.

Although patients will sometimes need to travel to specialist centres to access treatment, the National Cancer Plan will seek to make cancer care easier, more local, and more responsive. Rather than requiring endless trips to hospitals, cancer care will happen as locally as it can. This means digitally by default, in a patient’s home if possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, in a hospital if necessary. Bringing cancer care into the Neighbourhood Health Service is an important part of the National Cancer Plan for England, enabling cancer patients to be treated and cared for closer to home.

The National Cancer Plan will aim to improve how the physical and psychosocial needs of people with cancer can be met, with a focus on personalised care to improve quality of life. It will address how the experience of care can be improved for those diagnosed, treated, and living with and beyond cancer.

The Government welcomes the recent publication of Sarcoma UK’s Sarcoma State of the Nation report as it highlights the importance of early diagnosis, care co-ordination across complex pathways, research into new treatments, and survivorship. Our forthcoming National Cancer Plan will set out how we will improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including sarcoma.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 11 Nov 2025
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

"My Lords, I will speak in support of Amendment 59—to which I have added my name, along with the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee —which was moved so effectively and powerfully by my noble friend Lord Browne of Ladyton. In Committee, I spoke about the importance of our amendment then, and …..."
Lord Cashman - View Speech

View all Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Division Vote (Lords)
11 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Cashman (None) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 7 Non-affiliated No votes vs 7 Non-affiliated Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 201 Noes - 238
Division Vote (Lords)
11 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Cashman (None) voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Non-affiliated Aye votes vs 6 Non-affiliated No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 89 Noes - 195