Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse if interest rates on student loans were to be charged at Bank of England base rate.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Departmental estimates of changes to the interest rates on student loans are available in Table 7 of the Student loan forecasts, England: 2017 to 2018, which can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loan-forecasts-england-2017-to-2018.

The government is conducting a major review of Post-18 Education and Funding which aims to ensure we have a joined up system that is accessible to all and provides value for money for both students and taxpayers. It will consider how students and graduates contribute to the cost of their studies including the level, terms and duration of their contribution, while maintaining the link that those who benefit from post-18 education contribute to its costs.