Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 30 July (HL2188), whether they will now answer the question put, namely what was the evidential basis for their decision to support high-cost STEM courses and cut high-cost creative courses, as set out in the letter from the Secretary of State for Education to the Office for Students on 6 July.

Funding for high-cost subjects through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is allocated on a formulaic basis, not through a competitive application process. Media, journalism and publishing courses do not attract high-cost subject funding through the SPG in the 2026/27 academic year.

Previous funding for media, journalism and publishing courses until 2024/25 inclusive, and other creative and performing arts subjects until 2025/26 inclusive, represented just over 1% of total funding once tuition fees are taken into account. Funding rates for these subjects were lower than for subjects in price groups A and B, which had previously been evaluated to have higher costs. These courses, like others, continue to benefit from increases to tuition fee limits.

The department is working with the Office for Students to review and reform the SPG. The reform will ensure that high-cost subject funding is more effectively targeted towards priority provision that supports future skills needs and the Industrial Strategy, as well as ensuring funding is targeted towards the most disadvantaged students in accessing and participating in higher education.