§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many education maintenance allowances were awarded by each education and library board in Northern Ireland for each academic year since 1986–87; and what was the total value of such awards by board in each year.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is as follows:
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Value of awards Financial year Education and library board 1986–87 £ 1987–88 £ 1988–89 £ 1989–90 £ 1990–91 £ Belfast 30,084 23,475 18,629 8,582 9,024 North Eastern 40,416 32,465 15,669 11,278 6,887 South Eastern 30,922 28,622 13,133 12,880 6,901 Southern 87,298 63,518 47,041 29,169 19,448 Western 127,681 107,871 45,916 24,123 15,160 Total value of awards 316,401 255,951 140,388 86,032 57,420 Financial information is not available on an academic year basis.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of all changes to the value of education maintenance allowances and/or in the means test scales for education maintenance allowances since 1980 specifying the respective values and scales in each instance.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is as follows:
Academic year Maximum allowance (£) Means-test limits (£) Lower Upper Age 16 1980–81 380 1,670 2,980 1981–82 425 1,910 3,410 1982–83 445 2,080 3,715 1983–84 to 1989–90 390 2,485 3,925 1990–91 520 2,800 5,200 1991–92 551 3,080 5,720 Age 17 1980–81 430 1,670 3,140 1981–82 480 1,910 3,590 1982–83 500 2,080 3,915 1983–84 to 1989–90 475 2,485 4,165 1990–91 520 2,800 5,200 1991–92 551 3,080 5,720 Age 18 1980–81 510 1,670 3,470 1981–82 570 1,910 3,970 1982–83 595 2,080 4,325 1983–84 to 1989–90 494 2,485 4,645 1990–91 520 2,800 5,200 1991–92 551 3,080 5,720
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the progress of the review of the education maintenance allowance scheme by the Department of Education indicating the date of its initiation, consultation with education and library boards, unions or other interested bodies, the terms of the review and consultations and options identified and appraised.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department of Education for Northern Ireland initiated the review in 1988. It was
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Offices 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 Budget £ Staff Budget £ Staff Budget £ Staff Budget £ Staff Headquarters 1348,114 19 1390,356 20 1461,457 17 1449,475 14 Belfast Area 1 60,367 4 77,572 5 70,379 5 92,457 5 Belfast Area 2 53,802 4 58,853 4 56,914 6 95,250 6 Specialist Metrology 91,112 5 81,783 5 91,410 7 115,185 7 completed in 1990. Government departments and education and library boards were consulted in the course of the review, which also took into account representations received from other organisations and public representatives.
The review was charged with examining the requirements for the scheme and the options available for upgrading. In consultation, the options identified and appraised, ranged from discontinuation of the scheme to consideration of various levels of increases in allowances, in income bands, or both, and the redefinition of eligibility.
Changes resulting from the review were implemented from 1 September 1990. The changes made the scheme more straightforward—with one scale of allowances and shorter and fewer income bands. At the same time, all means-test limits were raised by 12 per cent. with an additional increase of 10 per cent. in 1991.