The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to double
hardship funds for university students to £700m and compensate
them for lost teaching and rent.
In an Urgent Question in the House of Commons to the Minister of
State for Universities, , Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Education
Spokesperson, also said that the Government's proposed return
date of 17 May – after many courses have finished – is the "final
end of term insult" to students.
Following the debate commented:
“The Minister's warm words about concern for students cannot mask
the fact that the Government is failing to take any real action
to support those facing real hardship.
"Many students have been unable to work for months – falling
behind on rent and bills, and paying for accommodation they can’t
use. Some are relying on food banks to feed themselves and more
than half say their mental health has got worse.
"Yet the Government dodged questions today of whether they would
increase financial hardship funding in order to reach those
students most in need.
"The needs of students have been neglected throughout the
pandemic. Robbing a million students of another month of their
university education, whilst refusing to offer any real
compensation, will feel like a final end of term insult to
students from this Government who have treated them as an after
thought time and time again."
ENDS
Notes to Editor
The full text of Daisy Cooper's Urgent Question is below.
About 36 hours ago, around a million students who have still not
returned to university since Christmas, were told that they
should not expect to do so until at least 17th May.
Before this announcement it seemed like this Government had
forgotten them altogether. And now we have proof that it had.
Because for many students, this date comes after their courses
have actually finished.
This feels like a final end of term insult to university students
who have had:
- Months of not being able to use libraries or labs
- Months without taking part in student societies and extra
curricular activities
- Months of paying rent for accommodation they could not use
- And months without being able to work - with some falling
behind on rent and bills, and needing to feed themselves from
food banks
Is it any wonder that more than 50% of students say their mental
health has got worse.
Students MUST be fairly compensated – financially for rent and
fees and with support to recover the learning time they have
lost. And the Government must more than double the funds for
those facing hardship to £700m as suggested by the APPG on
students.
Mr Deputy Speaker, Universities across the country have worked
really hard. They've adapted to delivering courses online and
invested considerable sums in doing so. But the Higher Education
sector is already facing huge financial uncertainty, so it is
clear that Universities alone cannot be expected to compensate
students.
The Government MUST step in.
So will the Minister consider conducting a rapid review of the
impact of the pandemic on university students and give that
review the power to make recommendations on how students should
be reimbursed by the Government in financial and learning terms.
Will the Minister consider calls to double funds available to
students facing financial hardship to £700million and finally
will the Minister say sorry for the Government’s role in wrecking
the last academic year for so many young people.
