Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what effect the introduction of 24 Plus Advanced Learning Loans has had on student participation levels.

When Advanced Learning Loans were introduced, the Department carried out a thorough Regulatory Impact Assessment, and used survey data to understand the likely change in participation as a result of loans. This is published at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32315/12-873-further-education-advanced-learning-loans-regulatory-impact.pdf

Information available for 2013/14 is provisional and as such does not allow us to show changes to the level of participation in further education with certainty. But the introduction of 24+ Loans appears to have been successful for those studying at Level 3 and 4. Latest data available showed that the total number of applications received, from 8 April 2013 to 31 July 2014, to fund provision in the 2013/14 academic year was 70,940.