B

Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 15 June 2026

Debate

Teachers’ Pension Scheme: Automatic Enrolment

Contribution

The noble Baroness is right: the higher education sector has faced considerable financial challenge, largely due to the decision of the previous Government to freeze the maximum cap for tuition fees, which this Government have chosen to lift in order to safeguard a significant part of the income of higher education institutions. That is why we have seen a small improvement in the financial position of the higher education sector in the most recent report published by the OfS. I gave evidence to the Select Committee inquiry that the noble Baroness referenced, and I explained at considerable length why we did not feel it necessary to develop a specific insolvency regime for higher education but why we would continue to take action to maintain and improve the financial sustainability of the higher education sector, and why, in the face of particular difficulties for individual organisations, we would prioritise not only the needs of the organisation but, most importantly, the needs of the students within that organisation for continuity of their studies.

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