Bill · started in the Commons

Sale of Student Loans Act 2008

A Bill to enable the sale of rights to repayments of student loans; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Sale of Student Loans Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 November 2007 by Mr John Denham (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008, receiving Royal Assent on 21 July 2008.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill contains measures to enable a programme of sales of the Government's Student Loans Portfolio.</p><p>The sale of the student loan book is part of an ongoing Government strategy to transfer ownership of all public assets that are not essential to the Government's public service delivery objectives.</p><p>The student loan book is worth around &pound;18.1 billion and is expected to increase in value to &pound;55 billion over the next ten years. The Government expects the proposed sales programme to realise around &pound;6 billion in receipts by the end of financial year 2010/11. </p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>Transactions will only proceed if they represent good value for money and include a genuine transfer of risk to the private sector</li><li>Terms and conditions for individual borrowers will stay the same, the Government intends</li><li>Government will retain control of all loan arrangements and regulations, including interest rates and repayment thresholds</li><li>Student Loans Company will continue to administer all accounts. Purchasers would only be allowed to use data about borrowers for the specific purpose of managing the loans.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 8 Nov 2007
  2. 2nd reading Commons 22 Nov 2007
  3. Programme motion Commons 22 Nov 2007
  4. Money resolution Commons 22 Nov 2007
  5. Committee stage Commons 4 Dec 2007
  6. Report stage Commons 23 Jan 2008
  7. 3rd reading Commons 23 Jan 2008
  8. 1st reading Lords 24 Jan 2008
  9. 2nd reading Lords 19 Feb 2008
  10. Committee stage Lords 8 May 2008
  11. Report stage Lords 2 Jun 2008
  12. 3rd reading Lords 10 Jun 2008
  13. Programme motion Commons 23 Jun 2008
  14. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 23 Jun 2008
  15. Royal Assent Unassigned 21 Jul 2008

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 25 Feb 2009.