Student Loan System

Baroness Watkins of Tavistock Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

Well, I think we can safely say that no decision in this area is simple and straightforward: there are knock-on consequences of every single aspect. The responsible thing is to look at all of the detail, make sure that young people and their needs are kept at the forefront of this, and move forward in a sustainable way that brings benefit to everyone.

[Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (CB)]

My Lords, it is absolutely clear that there is no intergenerational fairness in the way that student loans are being funded at the moment. There are many of us in this House, and many of our spouses, who went to university for absolutely nothing. We are now faced with young graduates who are completely capable of estimating that the big amounts that will need to be repaid for people who have not repaid their loans will be in 30 years, when they will be 60. It will not be the majority of us here who contribute to that. At what point will we consider some form of taxation, so that we all encourage proper support for people at university?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I think the noble Baroness has outlined her views very clearly. Obviously, I cannot answer the questions that she raises today. There is no doubt that there is a strong feeling that previous generations did well, but I point out to her the small numbers of people in our generation, particularly women, who actually got to university. Now, surely, we have made progress, and we have to make sure that we move it forward in a fair and equitable way.