Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) real terms pay, (b) working conditions and (c) staff pension schemes of university staff; and whether she has taken any steps to resolve the industrial disputes in the higher education sector.

Universities are autonomous and responsible for the pay and pension provision of their staff.  While the department plays no role in such disputes, we hope all parties can reach an agreement that delivers good value for students, staff and the universities, so that industrial action can be avoided.

It is disappointing that students who have already suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic face further disruption to their learning due to industrial action. The department hopes that all sides can work together so that students do no suffer with further learning loss. If students are worried about the impact of strikes on their education, they should raise this with their university.