Baroness Barran
Main Page: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I feel as though I should declare an interest in having four kids who have all gone at different times and have been on different plans. It is incredibly complicated. To reassure the noble Lord, I can only say that this subject will be constantly looked at and we will be looking forward to the best solutions to make sure that our young people are encouraged to get the best education they can.
Baroness Barran (Con)
Apart from welcoming the noble Lord, Lord Sikka, to the Benches on the other side of the House, I wanted to offer the Minister one simple thing that the Government could do while they work through, as she rightly says, many of the very complicated issues in this area. Many students who have been to university are asking whether they will ever be able to repay their loan and whether it was worth it. If the Government released the longitudinal educational outcome—LEO—data in full, they would be able to see which university and which course would allow them to do that. Could the Minister say when that will happen? If she cannot say today, perhaps she could write to me.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness and of course I will write to her, but I emphasise to the House that any remaining balance after 30 years is cancelled. No debt passes to family members or any descendants: that is something perhaps we have lost a bit of sight of today. I am happy to provide the information she requests, but it is imperative that universities step up to the plate and demonstrate the quality and outcomes of the education that they provide.