Data published today shows forecasts for student numbers, the cost of student loans and loan repayments in England.

New figures today (27 June) reveal that around 45% of the value of student loans being taken out in England will actually be covered by the taxpayer.

Student loan repayments for those on the latest undergraduate student loan system are only made while the graduate earns over £25,725 and are time limited to 30 years. The system is deliberately designed in the knowledge that not everyone will end up paying the full amount.

Mr Hinds has also emphasised how the student loans system is enabling millions of people from all walks of life, including record proportions of disadvantaged 18-year-olds, the opportunity to study at university to improve their career prospects.

It is estimated that 70% of full time undergraduates starting university in 2018/19 will benefit from a government contribution; on average across all student loans, the contribution is around 45p in the pound. In total, this contribution equates to £7.4 billion in the financial year 2018-19.

In turn, this investment will boost the country’s skills, and help many do jobs that have significant social and cultural importance to the world we live in.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said:

It is often overlooked just how much the Government, and therefore the taxpayer, contributes to student loans being taken out in England. Student loans are unlike commercial loans, in a number of different ways – but fundamentally because you don’t have to pay unless you’re earning over the income threshold, and after 30 years it is written off.

A subsidy of around 45% is a substantial amount, but a deliberate design of the system intended to make sure our world-class education is open to anyone who can benefit from it.

Today’s figures highlight just how progressive our system is, but also reiterates the need for universities to deliver value for money on courses – not just for students, but the taxpayer as well.

Student loans can contribute to living costs and tuition fees, which means this subsidy represents a substantial funding stream for university income.

The figures published today are part of the Government’s Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge, which outlines the amount of value of student loans written off by the government e.g. when they cannot be repaid by graduates after 30 years.

Today’s data has also revealed that the Master’s loan system does not require any subsidy from the government, with the majority of students studying at this advanced level going on to pay back their loans in full.

It is expected that overall, full-time undergraduate entrants eligible for tuition fee loans, at higher education institutions, are forecast to grow over the five-year period, rising to 397,000 in 2023/24. In 2018/19, this figure is estimated to be 384,000.

The Universities Minister announced that a new group will be created to improve support for students with disabilities in higher education.

A new group will examine the barriers faced by disabled students in higher education and improve support for them to succeed, the Universities Minister has announced today (27 June).

Speaking at the Festival of Higher Education, Chris Skidmore praised the work that is set to be undertaken by the new Disabled Students’ Commission, which is being developed by the Office for Students and will help the group thrive in higher education.

The Minister’s announcement follows the package of measures launched by the Prime Minister on Tuesday to tackle barriers faced by disabled people, including in employment and housing, so they can fully participate in society.

Mr Skidmore wants to highlight the barriers disabled students face in higher education, and has instructed the Commission to identify and promote good practice which helps those with disabilities have a positive experience at university. The Commission, formerly Disabled Students’ Sector Leadership Group (DSSLG), will use the DSSLG’s existing guidance for providers on supporting disabled students inclusively and look at what more needs to be done.

The Minister is also encouraging institutions to make sure their access and participation plans, being submitted to the OfS this summer to implement in 2020-21, include ambitious actions that set out how they will improve equality of opportunity for students from all backgrounds – ensuring disabled students are carefully considered within their plans.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said:

Living with a disability should never be a barrier to entering higher education and as Universities Minister, I am determined to ensure disabled students get the support they need to have a positive, life-changing university experience.

There are a record number of students with a disability going to university, but we must do more to level the playing field and improve the experience and outcomes for disabled students.

It’s my personal priority that those living with a disability have an equal chance to succeed in higher education. I want to see all universities face up to their responsibilities and place inclusion at the heart of their access and participation agenda.

The Commission will look at approaches which work well to improve support for disabled students, such as more inclusive curricula, restructuring support for students and enhancing learning and teaching environments.

The group of expert commissioners will include appointments from the sector, students and employers, and will offer independent advice to the Government and the OfS on issues affecting disabled students.

Last month, Minister Skidmore attended a round table event at Birmingham University to discuss what more can be done to improve the student experience of visually impaired students. The Minister highlighted the need for universities to face up to their responsibilities to be truly inclusive and ensure every student has equal chance to succeed.

Higher education providers have legal responsibilities to support disabled students under the Equality Act 2010.

Eligible students can apply for support through the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) for equipment and resources. Research published earlier this year showed that disabled students receiving the allowance had a higher continuation rate (91 per cent) than students without a disability (90 per cent).

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said:

It’s unacceptable that disabled students still have to overcome barriers to access an education which many others take for granted. While Britain has a world-leading university system, we must do more to ensure it’s truly inclusive.

The new Disabled Students Commission will help to level the playing field for disabled students so that everyone can enjoy the benefits a university education can bring.

Button batteries can badly injure or even kill a child, if swallowed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-product-safety-and-standards

We rely on button batteries to power everyday objects like car key fobs, remotes and children’s toys but they can badly injure or even kill a child if they are swallowed.

This is because the button battery reacts with saliva to create caustic soda – the chemical used to unblock drains. This can burn a hole in the throat and cause internal bleeding or even death.

Larger lithium ‘coin cell’ batteries are the most dangerous. It sounds scary, but there are simple ways to keep your child out of danger.

Store spare batteries securely

Store spare button batteries securely and out of children’s reach. Don’t leave them loose in drawers or on surfaces. Watch out when opening multi packs of button batteries in case they fall on the floor.

Know which toys and gadgets use button batteries

This includes everyday toys and gadgets, such as: robot bug or fish toys, fidget spinners with LED lights, slim remote controls, car key fobs, calculators, scales, gaming headsets, watches, hearing aids, nightlights and novelty items like singing Santas.

Check your home

Have a look around your home, if you find things powered by button batteries where the battery compartment isn’t secured by a screw, move them out of reach of small children. If it’s faulty, get it fixed or get rid of it safely. You can also report faulty toys to your local Trading Standards.

Teach older children the dangers

Teach older children why button batteries are dangerous and why they shouldn’t give them to young children.

Children often find discarded button batteries lying around or under sofa cushions. ‘Dead’ button batteries can still have enough power to badly hurt a small child. When you remove one, store it securely and recycle it properly promptly.

If your child swallows a button battery

Symptoms may not be obvious. Your child might be coughing, gagging or drooling, or pointing to their throat or tummy. Unclear symptoms mean it’s important to be vigilant.

If you think your child has swallowed a battery, take them straight to the nearest A&E department or call 999 for an ambulance.

Do:

• take the battery packaging, toy or gadget – if you can – to help staff identify the battery
• trust your instincts and act fast, even if there are no symptoms

Don’t:

• let your child eat or drink
• make your child be sick

You can download our:

Button batteries campaign leaflet (PDF, 672KB, 2 pages)

Button batteries campaign poster (PDF, 1.3MB, 1 page)

Published 22 November 2018
Last updated 26 May 2021 + show all updates

• Foreign Office joins network of NGOs, businesses and thinktanks to tackle ocean plastic
• New data shows Foreign Office has achieved a 98% reduction in single-use plastics since launching internal #BeyondPlastic campaign
• Plastic bottles completely removed from the Foreign Office in London and embassies around the world are taking up the challenge to go plastic-free

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has today joined the #OneLess pioneer network which cultivates a fundamental change in the way Londoners drink water by promoting a refill culture and reducing our reliance on single-use plastic water bottles.

The FCO also published new data showing its use of single-use plastics has fallen by 98 per cent since the introduction last year of a drive to eliminate avoidable single-use plastics in its UK operations.

Sir Simon McDonald Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, said:

Thanks to changes we’ve made since April 2018, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office now uses nearly 2.5 million fewer single-use plastic items every year.

I want us to lead the way on sustainability in Whitehall and beyond. Joining the #OneLess campaign will allow us to share our expertise and consign the single-use plastic water bottle to history.

The #OneLess campaign, hosted by ZSL (Zoological Society of London), works with pioneer network members to trial new solutions, redesign infrastructure and overcome challenges.

Rachel Shairp, Project Coordinator of the #OneLess campaign, said:

Single-use plastic water bottles are unnecessary in a city like London and over the past three years we’ve seen Londoners, businesses and members of government embrace tap water and rally to transform London into a place where plastic bottled water is a thing of the past.

We’re delighted to be working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to help them move from single-use plastic water bottles to more ocean-friendly ways of drinking water.

Dominic Jermey, Director General of international conservation charity ZSL said:

The evidence of the damage plastic is doing to our environment is overwhelming. Since 2016 ZSL through the #OneLess campaign has removed nearly 70,000 single-use plastic bottles from the Thames alone. I am delighted to see the Foreign and Commonwealth Office taking steps to help reduce single-use plastic and I hope other government departments will follow their lead.

The FCO’s #BeyondPlastic campaign has focused on eliminating all avoidable single-use plastics by offering staff different alternatives, and initiatives such as giving a discount on drinks purchased with a reusable mug – the so-called ‘Latte Levy’, the first in Whitehall. As part of this, the Foreign Office has, since August 2018, removed all plastic-bottled water from its restaurants and coffee shops, which accounted for over 54,000 units in the preceding 20 months.

In addition, 14 embassies of our around the world have managed to completely eliminate single-use plastic, and a further 40 have set out plans to do so.

Notes to editors:

FCO performance on avoidable single-use plastics is as follows:

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

2018:

• Photographs, video or graphics distributed by ZSL (Zoological Society of London) to support this media release may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the persons in the image or facts mentioned in the media release or image caption. Reuse of the picture or video requires further permission from the ZSL press office.