The government will support returning students, the Education Minister told the House of Keys.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked what contact had been made with students over their plans to return home for Christmas.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson said his department emailed all students studying off-island on October 19 asking to complete a short survey about their Christmas travel plans.

This was to help government gauge demand for travel and Covid testing capacity.

A total of 525 students responded out of 934 emailed surveys sent out.

Some 92% said they intended to return home over the coming two months, 40% by air and 53% by ferry, said the Minister.

There was a wide variation in the date they had chosen to come back, ranging from the end of November to December 20.

The majority had already decided to return to university in the new year and most have chosen the first two weeks of January to do so.

Most students were fully aware of the entry requirements and 70% had completed their travel registration application forms already, said Dr Allinson.

Mr Moorhouse and Onchan MHK Rob Callister said they had heard from students who had not received the email and were looking for the department to give guidance and support.

The Minister accepted that self-funded students had not received the email. He said there was difficulty in contacting those that don’t receive a grant as they are not on a database. He said he would welcome their feedback too.

He said that since the survey had been issued, England had entered into a second lockdown and this may have changed students’ minds as to when and how they intend to return.

’The department is more than willing to talk to any student who may be running into financial difficulties or problems with their return to the Isle of Man,’ he said.

Dr Allinson urged them to contact the student awards team. He said the survey and updates on travel registration and information on student well-being were posted on the team’s message bulletin.

All returning students are required to isolate for 14 days.

In the Keys, Chief Minister Howard Quayle once again ruled out easing border restrictions to allow visits by close family members, given the current heightened risk of importing Covid-19.