To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) college, and (2) university, students affected by the increased cost of living.
Answered on
6 December 2022
The department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and that have impacted students.
The department provides a range of financial support for further education (FE) students aged 16-19, or aged up to 25 with an education, health and care plan who need it to enable them to participate in post-16 education. Support available includes free meals, bursaries to help with the cost of education (such as travel, books, equipment, and trips), plus support for childcare and residential costs where required. In the 2022/23 academic year, allocations for discretionary bursary funding totalled £143.7 million, which is 7% higher than the allocations in 2021/22. This will support disadvantaged students to continue in FE or training.
Many higher education (HE) providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance.
There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged HE students who need additional help. The department has worked with the Office for Students to ensure universities support disadvantaged students using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.
All households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Bill introduced on 12 October 2022, includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this legislation will be set out in regulations.
Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.
A Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.