Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential consequences for her policies of the Office for National Statistics' assessment of RPI as a measure of inflation.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Office for National Statistics has undertaken a substantial programme of work over the past two years to enhance how inflation is measured and this will be carried over into student loans. The Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed that from 2030, at the earliest, movements in RPI will be aligned with CPIH as viewed here: https://obr.uk/box/the-long-run-difference-between-rpi-and-cpi-inflation/.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of student loan debt on parents returning to education.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Borrowers will be liable to repay after leaving study once their earnings exceed the earnings threshold, paying 9% of income above that level. Unlike commercial loans, student loans carry significant protections for borrowers and student loan repayments are linked to income, rather than the amount borrowed or interest applied.

If a borrower’s income drops below the repayment threshold, or they are not earning, their repayments will stop. Any outstanding loan including interest built up, is cancelled at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower, and debt is never passed on to family members or descendants. This is a deliberate government investment in students and the economy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2026 to PQ 108008, what the outcome was of her Department’s engagement concerning religious minority political representation in Syria; and what initiatives she is supporting to promote inclusive governance and improved conditions for those communities.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In all of our engagement with the Syrian Government, we have been clear of the importance of ensuring a fair representation of Syria's diverse communities in positions of authority and consulting widely on planned next steps for Syria's transition. We believe that this is fundamental to re-building trust and supporting Syria's longer-term stability. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of inclusive governance and the need for greater representation of all groups, including women, with the Syrian Foreign Minister al- Shaibani during his visit to London in November. I also recently met with members of the UK Kurdish community to discuss their views on the 30 January agreement and their hopes for the future.

Since the recent escalation began, we have regularly engaged both the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces and continue to press both sides to implement the 30 January agreement peacefully and in full, whilst also safeguarding humanitarian space and ensuring Kurdish participation in decision-making.

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Samantha Dixon (Labour; Chester North and Neston) Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat; Guildford) Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Samantha Dixon (Labour; Chester North and Neston) Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat; Guildford) Dr Rupa Huq

Submit Evidence (by 17 Apr 2026)

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is inviting written submissions on the future of the BBC as part of a new inquiry into the Royal Charter Review. 

Submit Evidence (by 18 May 2026)

The inquiry, which will cover both domestic and international tourism, will explore how the UK promotes itself overseas, the role of culture and heritage in attracting visitors and how the UK competes with other destinations.