Sixth Forms (Hansard, 3 April 2001)

§ Mr. Wicks

[holding answer 29 March 2001]We are committed to encouraging more students to continue in school, further education or training, and to raising attainment levels. Therefore we are developing a suite of measures to offer young people incentives and support while they stay in learning.

Discretionary student support for further education and sixth form students will increase to £115 million in 2001–02, a rise of 16 per cent. on the 2000–01 allocation. This includes £62 million for further education access funds, up from £54 million in 2000–01, and over £10 million for access funds for sixth form students. The access funds are used to help pay for transport, books, equipment, and other expenditure associated with remaining in education, such as residential charges and childcare costs.

We will continue to make Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) available in 56 of the most deprived LEA areas, covering approximately 30 per cent. of England by population. EMAs are a weekly allowance paid to the student or in some cases to the student's family, in return for the student's continuing attendance of an education programme. They aim to encourage young people to remain in full-time education and complete their courses successfully. Payments are means tested on the basis of parental income. Evaluation of the first year of the EMA scheme showed that EMAs lead to a significant increase in the numbers of 16 year olds deciding to remain in full-time education. The Government are considering the case for introducing a national EMA scheme.

We are also introducing the Connexions Card, which will be available to all young people aged 16–19. It will provide a range of incentives to stay in learning, ranging from help with transport costs to discounts on the sorts of goods and activities which young people value. The benefits attached to the Card will be earned through regular attendance and effort.