Work and Pensions

Andrew Western Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 Written Corrections

The following extract is from the Opposition day debate on Student Loans on 18 March 2026.

[Andrew Western]

Turning to the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott), we have had some serious chutzpah from the Tories today, opening with the fact that this Labour Government have increased fees—fees increased for sustainability purposes but certainly not trebled, as the Conservative party did. She spoke of the threshold freeze being unfair. April’s increase is our second in two years—as many as they managed in 12 years post introducing the plan 2 scheme.

[Official Report, 18 March 2026; Vol. 782, c. 970.]



Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Andrew Western):

[Andrew Western]

She spoke of the threshold freeze being unfair. April’s increase is our second in two years—they managed four in 12 years post introducing the plan 2 scheme.