Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to written statement HCWS144, what ongoing communications plans are in place within her Department for liaising with universities and other local services to prepare for the arrival of students from Gaza.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, what support will be available for the dependents of eligible students from Gaza travelling to UK universities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to written statement HCWS144, whether evacuation costs will be charged to universities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, if she will make a statement on the available support for students from Gaza, including whether support will operate in the same form as 2025, with the same format and time scales for evacuations.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, what steps she taking to ensure that students from Gaza due to study in Scotland, are able to enter the UK prior to the earlier academic year start dates in Scotland.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the under reporting of young carer numbers in the school census 2025.
Answered by Janet Daby
The impact of caring on education has been hidden for too long. The school census data is already shining a light on this issue despite the underreporting. It has given the department hard evidence on young carer’s attendance, suspensions and exclusions, and we are aiming to publish data on their educational progress and attainment at both key stage 2 and key stage 4 this autumn.
The department expects this data to continue to improve over time as the collection becomes better established, but we are looking at the ways the data is entered to see if there are technical changes that can be made to support more accurate reporting without overly burdening schools.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the White paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether the decision to implement the international student levy will fall under the devolved powers of the Scottish Government.
Answered by Janet Daby
I refer the hon. Member for North East Fife to the answer of 30 May 2025 to Question HL7427.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for students in vulnerable groups in the 16 to 19 bursary fund to include young carers.
Answered by Janet Daby
The department believes it is very important to make sure young carers can participate in education and get the support they need. This support will vary depending on family circumstances.
The ‘defined vulnerable groups’ face specific issues that mean they are not getting financial support from their families. This will be true of some young carers but not all.
The department provides a range of financial support for students who need it to enable them to participate in further education. This includes free meals, bursaries to help with the cost of education, such as travel, books, equipment and trips,as well as support for childcare and residential costs where required.
Young carers can discuss their individual needs with their school or college which can provide appropriate support, including from the institution’s discretionary Bursary Fund.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support young carers in full-time education to access financial support.
Answered by Janet Daby
The department is dedicated to making education fairer for all. Funding is provided to educational institutions to administer discretionary 16-19 bursaries for vulnerable students, including those who may have caring responsibilities.
Additionally, young carers under 18 and their families have the right to request a holistic assessment of their support needs, ensuring the whole family receive coordinated support from their local authority wherever necessary.
The department continues to encourage schools and local authorities to work closely with young carers and families to identify their needs and provide tailored support for them, ensuring they do not miss out on vital educational opportunities.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will assess the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for students in vulnerable groups in the 16 to 19 bursary fund to include young carers.
Answered by Luke Hall
The department is determined that all young carers get the support they need to succeed.
The department provides a range of financial support for students who need it to enable them to participate in further education. This includes free meals, bursaries to help with the cost of education, such as travel, books, equipment and trips, plus support for childcare and residential costs where required.
In the 2023/24 academic year, over £160 million of bursary funding has been allocated to institutions to help disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds with the costs of taking part in education. This is nearly 12% higher than published allocations for last year. The department also made available around £20 million each year specifically to support students in defined vulnerable groups, for example those in care, care leavers and those supporting themselves in receipt of certain social security funds or benefits.
Institutions decide which young people receive bursaries and determine the level of financial support they receive. Institutions develop their own eligibility criteria for access to the discretionary bursary fund, including setting a household income threshold appropriate to their area and must publish information on this for students.
The intention of the vulnerable group bursaries is to help young people who are in a particularly vulnerable situation and unlikely to be receiving financial assistance from parents or carers. These bursaries provide up to £1,200 to eligible young people to help meet the costs of participating in education that they would not otherwise be able to afford. Young people who are living at home and financially supported by parents or carers are not considered eligible to receive a vulnerable group bursary. Students who do not meet the criteria for bursaries for vulnerable groups may be eligible to apply for funding from the discretionary bursary fund and should approach their education institution for further advice.