Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many nationals of other EU member states with loans outstanding are uncontactable; and what estimate he has made of the amount of outstanding loans owed by such people.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student loans for each of the UK Government Administrations. Statistics covering English loans to EU domiciled borrowers are published annually by SLC in the Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Student Loans in England’.

http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspx

Information on the repayment statuses of EU domiciled borrowers, who are liable for repayment, can be found in table 3B of the SFR. Information on the balances of those loans are not available in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

SLC has arrangements in place to collect repayments from borrowers who move away from the UK; SLC establishes a 12 month repayment schedule based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of repayment available.

SLC sets up fixed repayment schedules for borrowers who do not remain in contact and will place those borrowers in arrears, further action, including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery. European Commission regulations allow the SLC to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries.