During questions to the Education Secretary on 28 November, Stephen asked the Government when it will introduce Sharia-compliant student finance for Muslim students.
Last year, Stephen tabled an Early Day Motion urging the Government to deliver on its previous commitment to provide sharia-compliant student finance. It was signed by 28 MPs. The Government have since launched a consultation on the new lifelong loan entitlement and said it is still considering how alternative student finance could be delivered through this.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen explained that an estimated 4,000 Muslim students do not go to university each year because there is no finance available that is compatible with their faith. He then asked the Minister “will the new ministerial team - which I welcome - commit to introducing alternative student finance and can they give us some indication of when that will be?”
You can watch Stephen’s full question - and the Minister’s response - below.