Wharton makes debut Lords comments as OfS chair

James Wharton makes first remarks in Lords since taking up regulatory role

The new chair of the Office for Students has praised universities that have offered rent rebates to students during the pandemic, in his first parliamentary comments since taking up the role at England’s higher education regulator.

During a debate in the House of Lords on 19 April, Conservative peer and OfS chair James Wharton asked Stephen Parkinson, Conservative peer and government whip, to “join me in commending those institutions which have offered rent rebates to students after a very difficult year for many, and in calling for more to do the same”.