This briefing sets out the background to the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, which will take place on 27 October 2021. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
Read the Government’s response and background material on reducing university tuition fees ahead of the debate on e-petition 550344 on Monday 25 October.
The price of energy has dramatically increased in recent months; both in the UK and globally. The prices are causing widespread concern and knock-on impacts for both domestic and commercial energy consumers. This paper sets out the causes of the price rise, impacts in the UK, and possible implications for UK energy policy.
Research Briefing
Average mid-September prices for petrol and diesel were 134.6 and 136.8 pence per litre respectively. They fell rapidly after the coronavirus outbreak largely due to sharp drops in oil prices. Since the first lockdown prices have increased again and are now above their immediate pre-pandemic levels. The UK had the 10th highest petrol and 2nd highest diesel prices in the EU+UK.
Research Briefing
A levels were cancelled again in 2021 due to the pandemic. Final grades were awarded based on teacher assessments. This resulted in a large increase in the number of top grades awarded. What impact did this have on the number of students starting in 2021 and on the number of places and accommodation available? How might teaching at the start of the academic year be affected by the pandemic?
Insight
What is the hypothetical effect of reintroducing a means-tested grant for undergraduates, of up to £3,000 a year.
Insight
A 35 year loan term could cut the cost of loans to the taxpayer by £1.5 billion, and a 10% repayment rate could cut the cost by £0.7 billion.
Insight
Reducing the fee cap for undergraduates to £7,500 per year would mainly benefit higher earning borrowers, particularly men.
Insight
A hypothetical cutting of the threshold to £25,000 would result in middle earners having the largest absolute increase in repayments of any income group.
Insight
A hypothetical 1 percentage point (ppt) increase would lead to higher repayments from richer graduates (borrowers), mainly men, in their 40s and 50s.
Insight
How do graduates (borrowers) pay back their undergraduate loans and how does it differs depending on their earnings?
Insight
A summary of the current student finance system in England, who is involved in the system, and the main financial flows between them.
Research Briefing
In the UK, higher education (HE) is a devolved matter and each nation has its own finance arrangements and student funding system. This paper outlines the student support systems for undergraduate higher education students in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It sets out the amount of funding that students may receive and references recent debates and developments in HE funding across the UK.
Research Briefing
This House of Commons Library briefing analyses early intervention policies aimed at parents and children from conception to age five, covering health, education, social development and financial benefits. This paper also looks at broader arguments around early intervention as a policy approach.
Research Briefing
This paper provides an introductory overview of the development of early intervention policies, their evidence-base and their impact. It also provides links to further reading. It complements the Library briefing paper Early Intervention: policy and provision (CBP 7647) which provides information on the provision of early intervention support programmes in England.
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