§ Mr. Denis MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals he has to change the method of calculating entitlement to educational maintenance allowance for students whose parents live apart. [88151]
§ Margaret HodgeWe have gained useful experience through running the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilots. In light of this, when the scheme is extended to all areas in England in September 2004, there will be changes to the income assessment. This will no longer take account of the income of a parent who lives apart from the young person. Instead, the assessment will be based on household income and follow the same principles used by the Inland Revenue for calculating entitlement to the new tax credits.