To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 10296/17-22, to detail the difference in the size of maintenance loans available to students from Northern Ireland studying in Great Britain compared to students from Great Britain studying in Great Britain.

The following table illustrates the maximum Maintenance Loan amount available to students living away from home and living in London across the four UK jurisdictions. Domicile Living Away from Home Living in London Northern Ireland £4,840 £6,780 England £9,203 £12,010 Wales £8,810 £11,260 Scotland £5,750 £5,750 The differences in maintenance loan amounts available are a direct result of the devolved nature of higher education across the UK which allows the UK regions to set their own levels of student support in response to the needs of their students, their political priorities and the budget available to them.