Education

Afzal Khan Excerpts

Thursday 20th December 2018 Ministerial Corrections

[Anne Milton]

For instance, since 2010 we have seen 26% more women entering STEM A-levels in England. However, we recognise that the take-up for physics is notably low and we have put money into the Stimulating Physics Network. I praise hon. Members who have taken part in the Year of Engineering. We know that girls’ interest in STEM subjects tails off quite substantially at secondary school. We are doing research to understand that better.

Cost of Living: Higher Education

The following is an extract from Education questions on 17 December 2018.

[Afzal Khan]

According to a recent report in the Huffington Post, the living costs of students in Manchester has rocketed by 37% in the last 10 years. Cost should not be a barrier to accessing the country’s best universities, such as the University of Manchester. What is the Minister doing to encourage universities to keep students’ costs affordable?

[Chris Skidmore]

Students who started their courses in the current academic year have had access to the highest ever funding levels to support their living costs. We now have a system of support that targets those from the lowest-income families, who need it the most. A record number of 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds went to university this year, 68% more than in 2009. [Official Report, 17 December 2018, Vol. 651, c. 519.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation:

An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Afzal Khan).

The correct response should have been: