Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 1:52 pm on 4 October 2017.
One announcement that has been made by the Conservative Government in Westminster that I welcome very much indeed is that they have agreed to change the repayment threshold for student loans. In fact, I wrote to Jo Johnson, the Minister for universities and science, back in July and in September of this year outlining my concerns about the amount of interest that was being paid on loans, and the issue of the threshold. So, I welcome very much the decision to increase the threshold to around £25,000, and I will work with the UK Government to ensure that that change can be implemented here in Wales first. But what the Member does not recognise and does not acknowledge is that the true barrier for people, especially from a poorer background, accessing higher education is not the issue around fee loans; it is the issue of upfront costs. How do you pay for your accommodation? How do you pay for your resources? And that’s why this Government is introducing the most progressive system of student support for undergraduates, part-time students and postgraduates anywhere in Europe.