Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of university tuition fees on the financial viability of students attending university.

The student finance system ensures upfront costs of tuition are not a barrier to accessing higher education. Eligible students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can apply for up-front fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition.

Full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds also have access to the highest ever amounts of cash in hand loan support for their living costs. Monthly loan repayments are linked to income, not to interest rates or the amount borrowed.

The current system has enabled record numbers of 18 year olds to benefit from higher education with progress continuing to be made on widening participation. There is a record entry rate for 18 year olds going to university for full-time study, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The government publishes Equality Analyses setting out the impact of the annual changes to student finance on protected and disadvantaged groups of students.