Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from the Council of Deans and Universities UK regarding the abolition of NHS bursaries; and whether they will publish any correspondence received.

The Department of Health received joint correspondence from Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK about a number of issues relating to healthcare education funding in England. A copy of the letter is attached.

There have been no discussions with external stakeholders/bodies about the impact of potential changes to the funding of health care education and training in England, nor have any decisions been taken in this regard. The Department will consider all of its expenditure as part of the Spending Review (SR). The Government will announce the outcome of the SR on 25 November 2015.

The Department has not made any formal assessment of the expected quality of placements of student nurses in the National Health Service in a free market in training places compared to a system of commissioned places funded by bursaries.