Student Loans

Debate between Robin Swann and Georgia Gould

Wednesday 18th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Georgia Gould]

My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. We need to open up access to apprenticeships. That is why the Government are making this investment, and it is why we have set that ambitious target for young people to go to university and to access apprenticeships.

[Robin Swann]

On that point, does the Minister agree that there is another way? The Open University also allows people to earn and learn at the same time. The situation is not as simple as university or apprenticeship. There is a middle way and, as a former graduate of the Open University, I encourage the Government to support it.

[Georgia Gould]

We are committed to opening up those routes to lifelong learning, and we are setting out plans on that. I welcome that intervention.