Does the Secretary of State believe the public think it is ever acceptable for anyone to donate hundreds of thousands to a political party and then be appointed by that same political party to a plum public post—in the case of BBC chair Richard Sharp, having been interviewed, we now learn, by a panel including another Tory party donor? Rigorous—really?

An audit conducted by Open Democracy found that think-tanks such as the TaxPayers’ Alliance, the Institute of Economic Affairs and Policy Exchange—favourites of the Tory party—had raised more than £14 million from mystery donors in the past two years. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Charity Commission about ensuring that funding of this type is transparent and sourced from UK donors?

I share hon. Members’ passion for grassroots sport, which brings communities together. I have seen that in my own community, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman has in his. It makes people happier and healthier. Since 2019 we have worked with Sport England to invest over £1.16 million in Bradford East. Last year, Sport England received almost £350 million from taxpayers and the national lottery, which we will continue to support.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for grassroots sports.

The Secretary of State is absolutely right; Bradford’s grassroots football, cricket and boxing clubs are a vital support network for many of Bradford’s young people. Yet, despite the outstanding work of the volunteers who run them, many have been forced to close their doors because of Government cuts, underfunding and, frankly, lack of support. I hear her saying that over £1 million has been put into my constituency, but I have not seen the effects in our grassroots boxing, football and cricket clubs. Will she commit to ensuring that grassroots clubs get the support they need in the forthcoming sports strategy? I invite her to come to my constituency to see for herself the fantastic work done by grassroots clubs.

The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.

We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.

As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.

The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.

We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.

As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.

Many of my constituents who are in the UK legally and have lived in this country for many years are denied access to student finance because of unnecessary and unfair residency rules. Many applicants find it difficult to provide the evidence required, and Home Office delays mean that some people cannot even apply in the first place. Will the Minister please look into that issue and see whether any changes can be made that could help with student finance, particularly when it comes to eligibility rules?

The department is exploring options to finance English students to study in Gibraltar, whilst ensuring that these students receive an education and benefit from safeguards broadly comparable with those in England.

Ministers consider changes to support arrangements for students in higher education (HE) on an annual basis. The department is currently reviewing options for uprating maximum grants and loans for the 2023/24 academic year.

Upfront loans are available as a contribution towards undergraduate students’ living costs while attending university, with the most support available for students from the lowest income backgrounds.

Maximum grants and loans for living costs were increased by 3.1% this academic year, 2021/22, and the department has announced that they will increase by a further 2.3% in the 2022/23 academic year. In addition, we are freezing maximum tuition fees for the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By the 2024/25 academic year, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven years.

In the department’s guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) on funding for the 2021/22 financial year, we made clear that the OfS should protect the £256 million allocation for the student premiums to support disadvantaged students and those that need additional help. The 2022/23 financial year guidance to the OfS confirms universities will continue to be able to support students in hardship through the student premium. Ministers’ Strategic Priorities Grant guidance letter to the OfS asks that the OfS looks to protect the student premium in cash terms for the 2022/23 financial year.

Alongside this, the government is also making available discretionary funding of £144 million to support to support those ineligible for council tax, including students, vulnerable people and individuals on low incomes.

The government has also announced that households will get £400 of support with their energy bills through an expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme. As well as doubling the £200 of support announced earlier this year, the full £400 payment will now be made as a grant, which will not be recovered through higher bills in future years.

The department has secured up to £75 million to deliver a National Scholarship Scheme which will support high-achieving, disadvantaged students to reach their full potential whilst studying in HE. This scholarship aims to address the ongoing financial barriers that can restrict high-achieving, disadvantaged students from achieving their full academic potential whilst studying in HE and is in addition to the significant sector interventions already in place.

I have been deeply concerned to hear the allegations of antisemitism linked to the National Union of Students (NUS) and believe that strong action is needed, especially as NUS has been the subject of similar allegations on at least another two occasions in recent years. This is why I announced on 13 May 2022 that the government would be disengaging with them, until we are satisfied that they have taken effective steps to address the allegations.

The financial impact of this decision is a matter for the NUS, not for the government. But we are working to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by our disengagement with the NUS. We will continue to talk with students’ groups such as the Office for Students’ panel and directly with students’ unions throughout the period of disengagement.

I have also contacted Civica Election Services to ask whether they are satisfied with the integrity of the elections for the incoming NUS president, given the publicity around antisemitic statements she is alleged to have made.

Jewish students need to have confidence that the NUS is a body that represents them, as well as other students. The government will re-engage with them once we and the Union of Jewish Students and Community Security Trust (in relation to the broader Jewish community) are satisfied that it does so.

Uni Connect programme was originally set up as a four-year investment programme to support the creation of a strong and versatile network of local partnerships, aimed at providing sustained outreach to young people across England. During this initial start-up phase, funding was set at £60 million to support the establishment of local partnerships and establishing projects to support hard-to-read students.

The programme is now in its third phase, and we have set out in strategic priorities guidance in 2021 and 2022 that funding should be reduced, with funding to be spent on maintaining core infrastructure and delivering the most effective interventions which meet specific policy aims.

On 26 May 2022, the Office for Students (OfS) published the Uni Connect national evaluation which provides an updated evaluation of one of the stated aims of the Uni Connect programme: to reduce the gap in higher education participation between the most and least represented groups of learners. The full report can be found on the OfS website, available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/uni-connect-national-evaluation-updated-analysis/.

In November 2021 we issued new guidance to the OfS on rebooting the access and participation regime in England. As part of this new approach, the director for fair access and participation has asked providers to play a greater role in improving equality of opportunity in further and higher education within schools.

In April 2022 the OfS issued guidance to providers inviting them to vary their current plans in order to better support real social mobility – delivering interventions that allow students to both succeed in and progress from higher education, rather than just getting more students through the door. Providers are being asked to incorporate in their current access and participation plans more attainment raising activities in partnership with schools, and to develop more diverse pathways into their institution, including levels 4 and 5 and apprenticeships. Providers are being asked to consider the needs that exist both nationally and within their own regional and local context.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Uni Connect programme was originally set up as a four-year investment programme to support the creation of a strong and versatile network of local partnerships, aimed at providing sustained outreach to young people across England. During this initial start-up phase, funding was set at £60 million to support the establishment of local partnerships and establishing projects to support hard-to-read students.

The programme is now in its third phase. The department has set out in its strategic priorities guidance in 2021 and 2022 that funding should be redirected, with funding to be spent on maintaining core infrastructure and delivering the most effective interventions which meet specific policy aims.

In November 2021, the department issued new guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) on rebooting the access and participation regime in England. As part of this new approach, the Director for Fair Access and Participation has asked providers to play a greater role in improving equality of opportunity in further and higher education within schools.

In April 2022, the OfS issued guidance to providers inviting them to vary their current plans. Providers are being asked to incorporate more attainment raising activities in partnership with schools in their currents access and participation plans. Providers are also asked to develop more diverse pathways into their institution, including levels 4 and 5 and apprenticeships. Additionally, providers are being asked to consider the needs that exist both nationally and within their own regional and local context.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and I have asked the Office for Students’ (OfS) to use up to £4 million of funding in the 2022/23 financial year, through the Strategic Priorities Grant, for English higher education providers to support Ukrainian nationals and Ukrainian-domiciled students whose usual financial support has been impacted by events in Ukraine.

The process for dispersing this funding to providers can be found in guidance set out by the OfS, found here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/regulation/information-for-providers-on-the-crisis-in-ukraine/funding-to-support-ukrainian-students/.