Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2026 to Question 12832 on Further Education: VAT, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a targeted VAT refund scheme for further education colleges.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
While VAT is a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury, the department recognises that the VAT status of further education (FE) providers remains an issue of interest to the sector. The government continues to look into the VAT position of FE colleges as it keeps all taxes under review and any changes would be announced at a fiscal event.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential fiscal impact of the 12% decline in international student numbers since 2022/23.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Estimates indicate that the tuition fees and living expenditure from non-UK higher education students generated £23.9 billion in UK export revenue in 2024.
Transnational education revenue rose by 17.1%, from £3.1 billion in 2023 to £3.6 billion in 2024.
The data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/uk-revenue-from-education-related-exports-and-transnational-education-activity/2024#dataBlock-9f02d54f-d5cf-4348-af23-2e38e9e05482-charts.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with universities regarding upholding free speech on campus.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills, and departmental officials have met higher education providers and representative bodies on a number of occasions to discuss the importance of protecting freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus.
These discussions have included implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, the commencement of key provisions and the introduction of the Office for Students' free speech complaints scheme.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the economic case for the International Student Levy.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government has consulted on the proposed design and delivery of the international student levy and published its response on 13 July 2026. An impact analysis for the levy was published at the 2025 Autumn Budget and an updated analysis will be published shortly.
The funding raised through the levy on providers will be fully reinvested in England’s higher education and skills system. It will fund maintenance grants for students, support progression through the post-16 system and support wider skills.
We have also announced increases to tuition fee caps in line with forecast inflation. Over the next 5 years, raising tuition fees by inflation could generate around £6 billion for higher education providers. This significantly exceeds the projected levy cost to providers of less than £1 billion over the same period. Compounding annual increases will provide the sector with growing resources to support high-quality education and innovation.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the wellbeing of teachers during Ofsted inspections.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Inspection and accountability are essential to ensuring every child receives a high-quality education. However, this should not come at the expense of teacher and headteacher wellbeing, which we take incredibly seriously.
The department is working with Ofsted and sector leaders to ensure accountability is collaborative, proportionate and fair, while remaining focused on delivering the best outcomes for children.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with representatives of the higher education sector on ensuring that universities retain appropriate institutional autonomy in relation to pension provision; and whether she is considering any changes to the regulatory framework governing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme by higher education institutions.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of volatility in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates on the financial sustainability and long term business planning of higher education institutions that are required to participate in the scheme; and what steps she is taking to improve predictability and stability in future contribution-rate setting.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the factors that led to the reduction in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate from 28.68 per cent to 17.68 per cent from April 2027; and whether her Department has assessed the likelihood of employer contribution rates increasing again at the next scheme valuation or review.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with the AQA exam board on the potential impact of wage stagnation on its staff.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Ofqual, the independent regulator of exams and assessments in England, oversees awarding organisations, including AQA, by conducting readiness reviews, evaluating their governance and ability to manage key delivery risks.
The department has received assurances from Ofqual that AQA has contingency processes in place to mitigate any risks to exam delivery.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the AQA exam board regarding resolving strike action taken by staff over pay.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Ofqual, the independent regulator of exams and assessments in England, oversees awarding organisations, including AQA, by conducting readiness reviews, evaluating their governance and ability to manage key delivery risks.
The department has received assurances from Ofqual that AQA has contingency processes in place to mitigate any risks to exam delivery.