Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s Study USA programme in Northern Ireland on career progression, global skills and economic mobility for university students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds; and what steps he is taking to ensure support for students not otherwise able to access international study opportunities.

The British Council Study USA initiative is a great programme that has benefited the career development of many students in Northern Ireland over its 30 years. Skills and further/higher education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure the appropriate support for lower-income students wishing to study abroad is in place.