Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Statement 2022 on university students.

The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and impacted students. To better understand the impact of the rising cost of living for university students, the department commissioned the ONS to survey a sample of HE students between October 24 and November 7. The report based on this survey was published on 23 November and is available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/educationandchildcare/bulletins/costoflivingandhighereducationstudentsengland/24octoberto7november2022.

There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged HE students in need of additional help. The department is working with the Office for Students to ensure universities support students in hardship, using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.In addition, all households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year.

A HM Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.