MPs debate student maintenance grants
19 January 2016 (updated on 19 January 2016)
MPs debated student maintenance grants in the House of Commons on 19 January 2016. The subject for this debate was chosen by the Opposition.
The debate on student maintenance grants was followed by a motion on the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
Student maintenance grants: Opposition day debate
This debate was the first of two that took place on subjects chosen by the Opposition. The second Opposition Day debate was on the cost of public transport.
The debate was moved by Shadow Minister for Education, Gordon Marsden. Minister of State for Universities and Science, Joseph Johnson, responded on behalf of the Government.
The Opposition motion was voted against (Division No. 165: Ayes 292 votes, Noes 306 votes).
- Watch Parliament TV: Opposition debate on student maintenance grants
- Read Commons Hansard: Opposition debate on student maintenance grants
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Students
Education (Student Support): Statutory Instrument
Motion
The following motion was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn and some members of the shadow cabinet:
"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 1951), dated 29 November 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 2 December 2015, be annulled."
The motion to annul the statutory instrument was voted against. A debate on the Statutory Instrument did not take place on the floor of the House. (Division No. 166: Members of the House: Ayes 292 votes, Noes 303 votes; Members representing qualifying constituencies (England) Ayes 203 votes, Noes 291 votes).
- Watch Parliament TV: Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
- Read Commons Hansard: Education (Student Support) (Amedment) Regulations 2015
The Speaker certified that the Instrument relates exclusively to England and is within devolved legislative competence (Standing order No. 83P). The division on this motion was subject to double majority voting (Standing order No. 83Q).
The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 were considered by the Third Delegated Legislation Committee on Thursday 14 January 2016.
The Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments has drawn the special attention of both Houses to this Instrument in its Fourteenth Report (HC 352-xiv).
- Third Delegated Legislation Committee: Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
- Find out more about: Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments
- Statutory Instruments Joint Committee - Fourteenth Report of Session 2015-16: 7) S.I. 2015/1951
- About Parliament: Delegated legislation
Related information
About Opposition day debates
Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition.
Seventeen days are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the largest opposition party, to decide which matters are debated. Three days are usually divided between the other opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.
Watching Opposition day debates from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.
This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.