Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on Higher Education Funding Council for England spending to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in each of the last five years; and what the expected spend will be by that Council on supporting such students in each of the next five years.

The table below provides information regarding HEFCE funding for each of the last 5 years to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds through the Student Opportunity Fund. HEFCE has not yet made decisions for future years. Its decisions will be made in the light of its overall grant settlements from Government.

Since 2012, universities have been expected to take greater responsibility for widening access. Institutions wishing to charge fees above the basic rate are required to have Access Agreements with the Director of Fair Access showing what more they will do to widen access. In 2014/15, institutions spent £713 million on Access Agreements, up from £404 million in 2009/10.

In addition, a total of £116mn was provided between 2011 and 2014 through the Access to Learning Fund, and a total of £198mn between 2011 and 2016 through the National Scholarship Programme.