I. Letter dated 17/10/2011 from Baroness Verma to Laura McDonald regarding letters to be deposited in the House of Commons Library. 1 p. II. Letter dated 01/10/2011 from Baroness Verma to Lord Stevenson regarding Education Bill: proposals for part time study, and alternative finance. 4 p.

I. Letter dated 17/10/2011 from Baroness Verma to Laura McDonald regarding letters to be deposited in the House of Commons Library. 1 p. II. Letter dated 01/10/2011 from Baroness Verma to Lord Stevenson regarding Education Bill: proposals for part time study, and alternative finance. 4 p.

Education Bill. Lords committee stage eleventh day. clauses 72 to 79 agreed to. Bill reported with amendments (HL Bill 98). Grand Committee held in Committee Room 4A.

Education Bill. Lords committee stage eleventh day. clauses 72 to 79 agreed to. Bill reported with amendments (HL Bill 98). Grand Committee held in Committee Room 4A.

My Lords, these are two slightly different amendments, raising different points, which are slightly oddly grouped together. However, they raise good points and I look forward to hearing what the Minister will say about them. On the first point, following the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and stepping sideways around the...

My Lords, these are two slightly different amendments, raising different points, which are slightly oddly grouped together. However, they raise good points and I look forward to hearing what the Minister will say about them. On the first point, following the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, and stepping sideways around the...

146: After Clause 73, insert the following new Clause— ““Disclaimer of eligibility for student support (1) Any student over the age of 18 (or if under that age, with the consent of the student’s parents or guardian) may disclaim the right to such financial support or arrangements as may from...

146: After Clause 73, insert the following new Clause— ““Disclaimer of eligibility for student support (1) Any student over the age of 18 (or if under that age, with the consent of the student’s parents or guardian) may disclaim the right to such financial support or arrangements as may from...

My name is also on Amendment 146 and I very much support what my noble friend has said. I shall add one or two other arguments to the powerful arguments that he has already made. My noble friend said that losing some of our good students to go abroad for...

My name is also on Amendment 146 and I very much support what my noble friend has said. I shall add one or two other arguments to the powerful arguments that he has already made. My noble friend said that losing some of our good students to go abroad for...

I beg to move Amendment 146 and speak to Amendment 147A. My objective is to nudge the Government gently in the direction of common sense and fairness in these two amendments. One of the effects of the Government’s policies over the last year or two, particularly with regard to the...

I beg to move Amendment 146 and speak to Amendment 147A. My objective is to nudge the Government gently in the direction of common sense and fairness in these two amendments. One of the effects of the Government’s policies over the last year or two, particularly with regard to the...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that answer. To be disappointed by my noble friend, and encouraged by the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, is indeed unusual. I hope that we will have at least the second part of that again. I shall now take an interest in the...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that answer. To be disappointed by my noble friend, and encouraged by the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, is indeed unusual. I hope that we will have at least the second part of that again. I shall now take an interest in the...

I think the bottom line is, of course, that it is all down to affordability. We need to be clear on that. Universities have a finite budget too. I will not fall into the eloquent spider’s web of the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes. I shall just say to him that...

I think the bottom line is, of course, that it is all down to affordability. We need to be clear on that. Universities have a finite budget too. I will not fall into the eloquent spider’s web of the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes. I shall just say to him that...

I would also very much like to support Amendment 148. As has already been said, not only does it address the important move of part-timers into access to loans, which is crucial, but for me it also sets out in parts 1 and 2 the right way in which it...

I would also very much like to support Amendment 148. As has already been said, not only does it address the important move of part-timers into access to loans, which is crucial, but for me it also sets out in parts 1 and 2 the right way in which it...

I wish to support Amendment 148. I am afraid that I cannot support Amendment 145G, for reasons that I think are fairly obvious. If you have students in this position and you want a degree of equity they should be contributing pro rata to their colleagues in full-time education. However,...

I wish to support Amendment 148. I am afraid that I cannot support Amendment 145G, for reasons that I think are fairly obvious. If you have students in this position and you want a degree of equity they should be contributing pro rata to their colleagues in full-time education. However,...

I speak to Amendment 148, which is very different in approach to Amendment 145G, but I believe there are some similarities, as it is essential that we truly believe that part-time students have access to loans to cover fees, and should be on a par with full-time students, pro rated...

I speak to Amendment 148, which is very different in approach to Amendment 145G, but I believe there are some similarities, as it is essential that we truly believe that part-time students have access to loans to cover fees, and should be on a par with full-time students, pro rated...

We beg to differ on that. Actually, I agree on the essence—that a lot of what has been raised today needs to be discussed in a wider context. It is a great pity that we are not able to do that because of the strange way in which the Government...

We beg to differ on that. Actually, I agree on the essence—that a lot of what has been raised today needs to be discussed in a wider context. It is a great pity that we are not able to do that because of the strange way in which the Government...

No, what I said was that there are issues coming up in the Higher Education White Paper that is under consultation. That is a good forum for concerns such as those raised by the noble Lord, Lord Peston. That is the place where that would be discussed far more fruitfully...

No, what I said was that there are issues coming up in the Higher Education White Paper that is under consultation. That is a good forum for concerns such as those raised by the noble Lord, Lord Peston. That is the place where that would be discussed far more fruitfully...

It would help us to understand it better if the Minister could reply to the question put by my noble friend Lord Stevenson of Balmacara about the threshold. Is his calculation right, that the payment would begin at about £15,000, which I think my noble friend said? If that is...

It would help us to understand it better if the Minister could reply to the question put by my noble friend Lord Stevenson of Balmacara about the threshold. Is his calculation right, that the payment would begin at about £15,000, which I think my noble friend said? If that is...

On that technical point, and I am sorry to interrupt, no—£21,500 currently cannot possibly deflate over five years to £21,000. I simply cannot accept that.

On that technical point, and I am sorry to interrupt, no—£21,500 currently cannot possibly deflate over five years to £21,000. I simply cannot accept that.

If the noble Lord will allow me to continue, I am hoping that I will be able to respond to the questions that he has raised. The system of student support would be much less progressive as a result of the noble Lord’s amendment. The Government remain committed to delivering...

If the noble Lord will allow me to continue, I am hoping that I will be able to respond to the questions that he has raised. The system of student support would be much less progressive as a result of the noble Lord’s amendment. The Government remain committed to delivering...

No, the Deputy Prime Minister has not got it wrong; maybe the noble Lord has got it wrong. It is 40 per cent. This is why the threshold for repayment is being increased to £21,000 and why repayments will be taken at 9 per cent above that level. This, hopefully,...

No, the Deputy Prime Minister has not got it wrong; maybe the noble Lord has got it wrong. It is 40 per cent. This is why the threshold for repayment is being increased to £21,000 and why repayments will be taken at 9 per cent above that level. This, hopefully,...

How can the Deputy Prime Minister get it so wrong? Has he got a different brief from the Minister?

How can the Deputy Prime Minister get it so wrong? Has he got a different brief from the Minister?

But the repayments are written off after 30 years. My noble friend Lady Sharp asked about the sale of student loans. The student loans Act makes clear that the borrower will not be affected by the sale. Their loans will be subject to the same terms as those that remain...

But the repayments are written off after 30 years. My noble friend Lady Sharp asked about the sale of student loans. The student loans Act makes clear that the borrower will not be affected by the sale. Their loans will be subject to the same terms as those that remain...