Written questions by Wood.

What the terms of reference are of the Break Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission Board; and whether the terms of reference have been amended since the Mission Board was established.

The Opportunity Mission Board provides a forum for external challenge and cross-government discussion on priorities and delivery for the Opportunity Mission. The Board is chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education. The Board does not have a fixed list of attendees. Ministers from relevant government departments and external experts are invited to attend meetings depending on the issues under discussion. The Board has been reformed since it was established to be a more delivery focused forum benefiting from external and sector expertise.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026, to Question 107708, on Eramsus+ programme, if she will set out how the money will be distributed back to UK student beneficiaries, and how much of the cost will be used to pay for EU students studying in the UK.

The Erasmus+ budget determines the overall allocation of funds across the programme for the 2021–2027 period. The UK National Agency will be responsible for assessing funding applications and awarding grants to UK beneficiaries.EU students who wish to come to the UK on an Erasmus+ placement are funded through their own country’s Erasmus+ budget, which is managed by their national agency.All students enrolled in studies at a UK higher education institution (HEI) leading to a degree or another tertiary level qualification are eligible to apply for an Erasmus+ mobility, provided their institution has secured funding. Decisions on which students receive funding for placements are made by the individual HEIs.

Pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2025, to Question 84664, on Universities: Admissions, if she will publish the terms of reference of the task and finish group into higher education admissions; and what the definition is of disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Terms of Reference of the Access and Participation Task and Finish Group were published on GOV.UK in February 2026:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6985f6bf85bc7d6ba0fbc74f/HE_Access_and_Participation_Task_and_Finish_Group_-_Terms_of_Reference.pdf.The Task and Finish Group’s remit is to consider regional disparities and how to tackle the most systemic barriers across the journey into higher education for disadvantaged students.The department has not issued direct guidance to the group on the definition of disadvantage for admission purposes.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026, to Question 101069, on Erasmus+ Programme, what is the estimated ratio of the number of UK students who will visit the European Union, and the number of EU students who will visit the UK, in the first year of the programme.

In 2018/19, there were approximately 31,000 inbound higher education (HE) student mobilities via the Erasmus+ Programme. There were approximately 16,000 outbound HE student mobilities in the same year.The department expects there will be a greater number of HE mobilities on reassociation, given the expansion of the programme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 109541 on Jean Monnet Action: Finance, whether UK educational institutions will participate in the Jean Monnet Actions in relation to (a) supporting European Union studies, (b) the Jean Monnet Network on internal policy and (c) teacher training.

I refer the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire to the answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 114071.

What the budget is for the Turing scheme in 2026-27; and what the target number of UK students supported is.

Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, and applications for funding are open until 16 March 2026. The budget for 2026/27 will be confirmed in due course.​The Turing Scheme is a demand led, competitive programme, so providers can shape applications to the needs of their students. We do not set targets for the number of Turing Scheme placements in each year, as this is highly dependent on the numbers of students that individual providers intend to send, where they intend to go and how long for. Instead, we allocate funding to prioritise the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.​The UK has agreed in principle to associate with Erasmus+ from 2027, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for 2027/28 will be shared in due course.

Whether the Turing scheme will be renewed for (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29.

Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, and applications for funding are open until 16 March 2026. The budget for 2026/27 will be confirmed in due course.​The Turing Scheme is a demand led, competitive programme, so providers can shape applications to the needs of their students. We do not set targets for the number of Turing Scheme placements in each year, as this is highly dependent on the numbers of students that individual providers intend to send, where they intend to go and how long for. Instead, we allocate funding to prioritise the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.​The UK has agreed in principle to associate with Erasmus+ from 2027, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for 2027/28 will be shared in due course.

Whether there is a minimum age to participate in the (a) Turing and (b) Erasmus+ scheme.

Most Erasmus+ activities do not have a specific age limit, except for youth activities which are only available to 18 to 30-year-olds. Erasmus+ is designed for a wide range of participants, including learners, trainees, and staff across higher education (HE), further education, vocational education and training, schools, adult education, youth programmes and sport programmes.Students can participate in Turing Scheme placements if they are receiving education from an eligible provider from primary school through to HE.

Whether the legislative provisions of the European Commission, Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities, COM/2025/545 final, July 2025, Article 18, will apply to UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme as a third country.

The document referred to is a proposal and is not currently law.The UK will be utilising EU funds, and so EU legislation relating to their use may apply in certain circumstances.

How many (a) EU and (b) UK students participated in the Erasmus programme in each of the last ten years that the UK participated.

The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

With reference to the press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether EU students will pay different levels of university fees compared to UK students studying in the UK.

Both inbound and outbound students on an Erasmus+ placement are exempt from tuition and registration fees at their host institution.As the UK has left the EU, EU nationals are treated as international students when having started courses on or after 1 August 2021. This provides clarity as to which persons are eligible to access home fee status and student finance.For EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members covered by citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreements, they will continue to have access to student support and home fee status in England for the duration of their course, subject to meeting the residency requirements.

With reference to the press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether EU students studying in the UK will be eligible for student loans.

Both inbound and outbound students on an Erasmus+ placement are exempt from tuition and registration fees at their host institution.As the UK has left the EU, EU nationals are treated as international students when having started courses on or after 1 August 2021. This provides clarity as to which persons are eligible to access home fee status and student finance.For EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members covered by citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreements, they will continue to have access to student support and home fee status in England for the duration of their course, subject to meeting the residency requirements.

Further to the Cabinet Office press release, Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether the 30 per cent discount will apply after the 2027-28 academic year.

We have successfully negotiated fair terms for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027, the final year of the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.

How many UK students have studied abroad under the Turing scheme by country in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

The 2023/24 academic year is the most recent year for which data is published on placements completed using Turing Scheme funding and the associated costs. In 2023/2024, 32,714 UK students took part in international placements through the Turing Scheme, travelling to 153 countries. The most popular destinations were Spain (4,728), France (3,178), Italy (1,841), the United States (2,468), Australia (1,002) and Japan (750).Across all sectors, the scheme spent £82.8 million of funding in that year on placements for students in higher education, further education and vocational training, and schools. The department does not hold information on the cost of placements by individual destination country.A full breakdown of destinations and funding is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turing-scheme-funding-outcomes-2023-to-2024.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107710, on Erasmus+ programme: flags, whether any other Government programme in Great Britain will now be required to follow European Commission communication and visibility rules.

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107710 on Erasmus+ programme: flags, whether the European Commission communication and visibility rules will apply to universities participating in the scheme.

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026, to Question 107710, on Erasmus+ programme: flags, which legal instrument sets out the European Commission communication and visibility rules.

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Further to the Cabinet Office press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, published on 17 December 2025, on what basis was the £570 million a year cost calculated; and what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public pursue of (a) EU students studying in the UK and (b) UK students studying in the EU.

I refer the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107708.

Whether the Government provides funding to Jean Monnet activities.

Jean Monnet Actions are funded from a dedicated share of the Erasmus+ budget. When the UK associates to Erasmus+, it will contribute to the overall programme budget.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 101957 on Erasmus+ Programme, whether the National Agency will be an arms’ length body.

The department has commenced discussions with the British Council with a view to appointing them as the National Agency. The British Council is an arm’s-length body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.