In recent weeks and months, I have been contacted by numerous students about the need for further support in this cost of living crisis.

High living costs are putting pressure on student budgets, which is affecting their learning and wellbeing. It was clear months ago that we were approaching a difficult winter, but I am concerned Ministers have not come up with the solutions we need.

As you highlight, inflation is now over 10% but the maximum loan for living costs only rose by 2.3% this year. It is estimated that students are now facing an average funding gap of £439 per month.

As you will know, there was no announcement on support for students in the Autumn Statement. The Government has said it is “considering options” for changes to loans and grants for the 2023/24 academic year, and an announcement is expected soon.

It noted that “students who are worried about making ends meet should speak to their university about the support they can access”. However, I am concerned universities are having to do more to help students, with little support from Ministers.

Earlier this year, the Government announced a package of reforms to higher education, which included a freeze in the repayment threshold for borrowers on the post-2012 student loan. The threshold is therefore set to remain at the current level of £27,295, until the end of the 2024/25 financial year.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies described this as “a tax rise by stealth” on middle-earning graduates, and I worry that concerns about fairness and affordability were lost in these reforms.

Meanwhile, rents continue to rise for families and students alike. I have serious concerns that many are at risk of becoming homeless and I want Ministers to come up with a plan to prevent this.

I support calls for emergency legislation to abolish ‘no fault’ evictions, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. I also support calls for a Renters’ Charter, including an end to automatic evictions for rent arrears and a requirement for landlords to give four months’ notice.

More widely, I want to see a social security system that treats people with dignity and helps us when we need it. I am therefore supporting calls for Universal Credit to be reformed.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.