Clause 5
Sale of Student Loans Bill
5:30 pm
Bill Rammell (Minister of State (Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education), Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; Harlow, Labour)
I am genuinely not convinced that making that change is necessary. I know that we are in something of a limbo because amendments have not been tabled, but if the hon. Gentleman feels strongly about this matter then, without giving any commitment, he should table an amendment on Report that we could debate and consider, although I do not believe that that is necessary.
The hon. Gentleman’s other point was in respect of those people who are repaying outside of the pay-as-you-earn system. They must undertake those repayments, at the moment, directly to the Student Loans Company. That will continue to be the case whether or not—again, I state this for the record—the debt is owned by the Government or by the private sector.