Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2022 to Question 77588 on Students: Cost of Living, if she will make it her policy to increase the maximum loans and grants for student living costs in line with the consumer price index of September 2022 for the (a) remaining period of the 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24 academic year; if she will increase maintenance loan thresholds to reflect changes to the family income for students who are not eligible to apply for their entitlement to be reassessed in the 2022-23 academic year; if she will increase (i) student premium funding and (ii) hardship funds available to universities; and if she will make a statement.

The department continues to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other government departments to provide support to students. Decisions on student finance will have to be taken alongside other spending priorities, to ensure the system remains financially sustainable.

The decisions on student support for higher education courses are taken on an annual basis and changes for the 2022/23 academic year were made through regulations laid in December 2021.

The government is currently considering options for changes to loans and grants for living and other costs for the 2023/24 academic year. An announcement will follow in due course.

There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. The department has worked with the Office for Students to ensure universities support students in hardship, including by drawing on the student premium.