Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions and consultations they held with the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and UNISON before deciding that future nursing and midwifery students should fund themselves through student loans.

The Department did not hold any formal discussions or consultations with the highlighted stakeholders prior to the Spending Review announcement.

The Government received and considered a broad range of representations from a number of stakeholders during the Spending Review process.

Following the Spending Review the Department is absolutely commited to working with key stakeholders in implementing these reforms.