Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure an increased gradual tapering, as household income increases, of the non-repayable maintenance grant, to help support students from families marginally above an income threshold.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The new maintenance grants are a targeted measure designed to provide additional support to eligible students from the lowest-income households without increasing their debt. They will be introduced for new and continuing students studying subjects aligned with the Industrial Strategy and skills needs from the 2028/29 academic year.

Like other means-tested elements of the student finance system, eligibility criteria are required to ensure support is targeted effectively. Students with household incomes at or below the minimum means-testing threshold of £25,000 will receive the highest level of support, with grant entitlement tapering as household income increases towards the upper threshold at £30,000. Students with household incomes above this level will not be eligible for a maintenance grant.

Students at all levels of household income will continue to benefit from the government's commitment to increase maintenance loans every year in line with forecast inflation.