Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether the complaints framework operated by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education is fit for purpose in the context of current (a) higher education tuition fees and (b) student consumer protections.

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education (HE) continues to perform well despite sustained year on year increases in the number of complaints it handles. Its latest annual report shows that over 90% of complaints were closed within six months, and that the average case handling time has reduced to 81 days.

The department also welcomes also the OIA’s ongoing consultation, open until the end of July, which should help ensure it remains fit for purpose in response to the evolving HE landscape.