Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with Universities on the financial viability of the sector.

The Office for Students (OfS), as the independent regulator of higher education (HE) in England, is responsible for monitoring the financial sustainability of registered HE providers, and therefore undertakes regular engagement with the sector.

The government recognises the financial strain that some providers are facing, and works closely with the OfS to monitor emerging risks and issues within the sector and to ensure there are robust mitigations in place to ensure the interests of students are protected.

The department also undertakes regular engagement with sector representatives and providers to understand the risks and issues facing the sector and to discuss the overall climate for HE provider financial sustainability.

The department is looking forward to speaking with providers in the coming weeks, months and years on a variety of matters, including financial sustainability.