To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 14138/17-22, whether she has had any discussions with the Student Loan Company on whether an agreement can be reached to distribute a £500 Covid Disruption Payment to students ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland, but studying elsewhere.

I, and my officials, had discussions with the Student Loan Company (SLC) when considering the design and implementation of the Covid Disruption Payment, to explore the possibility of making this payment through the SLC. Requests such as these must be agreed by the four UK administrations before they can be taken forward by the SLC. Accordingly, a request was formally submitted to shareholders for agreement. However, subsequent legal advice stated that the Department does not have the legal power to make payments through public bodies outside of Northern Ireland, such as a GB or RoI university or the Student Loans Company.

Northern Ireland students elsewhere in the UK are not without support. The other jurisdictions have all announced significant increases to their student support packages and I have made representations that these students should, like in Northern Ireland, be supported by those administrations who have imposed restrictions on student activities.