Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will retain the NHS Bursary for postgraduate pre-registration nursing students.

On 6 February 2018, the Department for Education laid amendments to their student support regulations to allow pre-registration postgraduate nursing students to access student loans from August 2018.

Subject to parliamentary approval these students will have access to the standard student support system rather than receive a National Health Service bursary.

This is in line with changes made in August 2017 for other healthcare students, including undergraduate nurses.

Allowing these students to access the loans system will enable them to access up to 25% more financial support while they study than under the bursary system.

In addition to the grants available from the student loans company the Government has made available additional funding to support students whilst attending the clinical placement element of their courses: child dependents allowance, travel and dual accommodation and an exceptional hardship fund.