Written Assembly Questions tabled on 24 May 2016 for answer on 1 June 2016
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Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how many graduates from the European Union have gone missing after studying and then leaving Welsh universities owing money in the forms of loans to the respective universities? (WAQ70278)
Answer received on 1 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Tuition fee support provided by Student Finance Wales (SFW) is paid directly to the relevant university on behalf of the student. The loans are repayable to the Government through the Student Loans Company and or HMRC.
At the end of the 2014-15, there were 5,635 students from the EU who have received support from SFW. Of that total, 355 had fully repaid their loans, 2,945 were not yet liable for repayment and 2,355 were liable to repay. Of the borrowers liable to repay, 90 were classified as being in arrears with their repayments and 820 have been placed in arrears because no income details had been provided or further information is being sought.
Source: Student Loans Company (student numbers rounded to the nearest 5)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how much money is owed to Welsh universities by missing EU students who have received loans and/or financial support? (WAQ70279)
Answer received on 1 June 2016
Kirsty Williams:
Tuition fee support provided by Student Finance Wales (SFW) is paid directly to the relevant university on behalf of the student. The loans are repayable to the Government through the Student Loans Company and or HMRC.
At the end of the 2014-15, the balance of loans incurred by EU domiciled students in Wales was £24.3m. Of the £8.9m that was liable for repayment, £1.1m was classified as being in arrears. The overdue debt owed on these accounts was £0.7m.