§ Jim DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many extra people in the North West he expects to stay in education as a result of the introduction of education maintenance allowances; and what plans he has to provide extra funding to further education colleges in the North West to support these extra students. [171134]
§ Alan JohnsonWe estimate that there will be about 3,900 extra 16 year olds in the North West Region in further education this September who would not be participating without the EMA. There will also be a significant number of extra 17 and 18 year olds in further education in the pilot areas.
The 2002 Spending Review settlement allowed for the expected impact of national EMA in further education institutions, including further education colleges.