To ask the Minister for the Economy for an update on what action he is taking to increase the Maintenance Loan for Northern Ireland-resident students travelling to study in Great Britain.

For the current 2021/22 academic year my Department continues to provide student support to eligible higher education students in the form of a means tested Maintenance Loan of up to £4,840 for students living away from home, £6,780 for students living in London, and a non-repayable means tested Maintenance Grant of up to £3,475 to help with students’ living costs.

In all likelihood the earliest any changes could be made to the student support package as it currently stands would be academic year 2023/24 given lead in times and the lack of an agreed Executive Budget.