Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information she holds on the number of student loan borrowers whose repayment balances have increased despite making regular payments.

A borrower is deemed to have made regular repayments if they have made at least four repayments, of any amount, in the 2024/25 financial year. This may include borrowers who stopped their regular repayments or ceased being liable to repay part-way through the 2024/25 financial year.

The total number of borrowers whose loan balance has increased despite making regular repayments in the 2024/25 financial year is 2,145,434. This figure covers Plan 2, 5 and 3 borrowers. It has been generated by comparing borrowers’ loan balances on 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

At the end of a borrower’s loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off is the government’s subsidy and is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.