Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to extend bursaries for student mental health social workers.

Final year students in receipt of the bursary whose studies were disrupted by the pandemic will receive a pro-rated 2019/20 bursary for the period of their course extension to enable them to complete their studies.

The NHS Business Services Authority administer the social work bursaries and we would encourage any student who needs a course extension to speak directly to their university who can advise on requesting one through the NHS Business Services Authority process.