Further to the figures provided in response to WQ88730, what factors explain the increase in total expenditure on student finance each year?
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language | Answered on 08/09/2023
The number of Welsh students has been generally increasing due to increased participation in higher education. However, the main reason for the increase is the annual uplifts to student support. The Welsh Government reviews the amount of maintenance support it provides to higher education students each year, raising rates in line with established policy. Maintenance support is linked to the value of the National Living Wage, so recognising the importance of living cost support to students.