Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 13 November (HL Deb, cols 1799–1800), whether they have any plans to review the current assessment system for dyslexic students applying for the Disabled Students' Allowance, including the cost to the student.

We will review the evidential requirements for students applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) with Specific Learning Difficulties, particularly those with dyslexia. This review will seek expert opinion as to whether it is still necessary for dyslexic students to have a post-16 diagnostic assessment when applying for DSAs. The review will not consider the issue of who should pay for such a diagnostic assessment: DSAs funding is currently not available to determine eligibility.