Student Loans Company repayments

That this House expresses grave concern at reports that the Student Loans Company (SLC) has instructed 22,000 students to immediately repay tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and childcare grants issued in error; notes that many of those affected are from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds, including mature students, single parents and those balancing work alongside study; acknowledges that access to higher education is a key driver of social mobility and opportunity across the United Kingdom; regrets that this situation appears to have arisen from failures in communication and guidance between the SLC, higher education institutions and Government departments; believes that students who acted in good faith based on information provided to them should not be penalised for administrative errors beyond their control; calls on the Government to urgently intervene to halt all recovery action against affected students until full responsibility for these errors has been established, and to provide immediate financial and pastoral support to those impacted; urges the Government to undertake a full review of the student finance system, including the clarity of eligibility guidance and the fairness of repayment structures; and further urges the Government to propose reforms which ensure that the system is transparent, equitable and does not place disproportionate burdens on graduates or act as a barrier to educational opportunity.