Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the effect of long-term student debt on the mental well-being of people with such debt.

Student loans have more favourable terms than commercial loans, and for lower earning graduates, the system works like a graduate contribution. Repayments are taken at the rate of 9% of income above £25,000 with borrowers earning less than this, repaying nothing at all. If a borrower’s income drops, so do their monthly deductions. Loans are cancelled after 30 years – no commercial loan provides this level of borrower protection.

Student mental health is a priority for this government. In December 2017, the Department for Health and the Department for Education published a joint green paper on Children and Young People’s mental health. The green paper set out plans to transform specialist services and support in education settings and for families, including government’s plans to set up a new national strategic partnership focused on improving the mental health of 16-25 year olds.

The Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Education will continue to work together to improve mental health support for young people.