Student Maintenance Grants

Debate between Gordon Marsden and Geoffrey Robinson

Tuesday 19th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Marsden]

I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend, who was a distinguished Schools Minister. His points are absolutely valid, and I shall deal with them in more detail in due course. These measures are not simply incidental tinkering with existing financial regulations.

[Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab)]

Can my hon. Friend confirm that 45% of the student loan book, amounting to some £5 billion, is suspected to be delinquent in some way or other? These measures would add a further £1.6 billion to that amount. Are not the Government building up a huge unfunded liability in their national accounts?

[Mr Marsden]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has great experience in these matters. The Institute for Fiscal Studies and other organisations have commented on that matter.