Oral Answers to Questions

Cat Smith Excerpts

Monday 1st March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support university students facing financial hardship as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

[Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

What financial support he has provided to students affected by the covid-19 lockdown.

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support university students facing financial hardship as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michelle Donelan]

This has been a really challenging and difficult time for students. The Government expect that quality is maintained, and the Office for Students has been clear that all higher education providers must continue to comply with the registration conditions relating to quality and standards. Accommodation providers are autonomous, but the Government urge all large providers to have students’ interests at heart and provide refunds; we thank the plethora of universities that have already done so, including—but not limited to— Nottingham, Sheffield, London School of Economics, Bath and Essex, to name a few.

[Cat Smith]

There is a huge issue with students being legally unable to return to accommodation that they are legally obliged to pay for. The Prime Minister has said that he will look into this. Indeed, when I questioned him about the matter on 22 February, he said:

“We will do whatever we can to support them,”

and we will,

“help them to get compensation.”—[Official Report, 22 February 2021; Vol. 689, c. 656.]

Can the Minister put some flesh on the bones about what the Prime Minister meant when he talked about compensation for students who are legally unable to return to accommodation that they have to pay for?

[Michelle Donelan]

As I have said, this has been a difficult time for students. There are students who are having to pay twice and may be being charged by their parents. That is exactly why we announced £70 million of additional financial hardship funding on top of the £256 million. I urge any student listening to this to go to their university and get the support available to help them at this time.