Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evaluation has been undertaken to ensure the reintroduced maintenance grants will reach the students who need them most and what steps are being taken to ensure high take-up rates among students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in Northumberland.

This government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to attend higher education.

Targeted maintenance grants from the academic year 2028/29 onwards will provide up to £1,000 extra support per year to students from low income households studying courses aligned with the government’s missions and Industrial Strategy. It will be crucial that the subject list is informed by the best and most up-to-date evidence on skills needs, and we will confirm which subjects will be eligible for grants closer to launch. The grants will be available to new and continuing students undertaking full-time courses at levels 4 to 6, including technical qualifications and degrees, at university or college.

In parallel, we have established a Task and Finish Group to tackle regional disparities in access and the most systemic barriers across the journey into higher education for disadvantaged students.