Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of student loan debt on the level of university applications and drop-out rates.

The student finance system is financially sustainable and has enabled record numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to benefit from higher education.

Latest data show that 18 year olds applied at record rates in 2017, and their application rates have increased for five years in a row. This is also true for the most disadvantaged 18 year olds.

Non-continuation rates for UK students at English Higher Education Institutions are lower than in 2009/10, including for young, mature, disadvantaged and BME students.