Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy to prioritise (a) UK higher education and (b) higher education distance learning in the Government's future trade export strategy.

The Government recognises the benefit that education exports bring to the UK and continues to support its growth - it is our wish to maximise opportunities for UK providers. We also recognise the valuable contribution universities make to improving lives around the world. We will be doing more to promote the UK higher education offer, particularly in Trans National Education; and the Department for International Trade’s dedicated education team has enhanced its focus with the imminent arrival of a secondee from the sector. We will continue to collaborate with the higher education sector to support development of their international business.