HC Deb 04 November 1999 vol 337 cc323-4W
Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the processing of initial payments of education maintenance allowances under the pilot scheme to have been completed. [97035]

Mr. Wicks

All 15 pilot areas will have made payments of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) by Friday 5 November 1999.

Of the 15 pilot EMA areas, 10 had made payments by the end of September. All young people who were paid late, but were due an EMA when term started in September, received arrears of their EMA with their first payment.

Over 13,000 young people had applied for an EMA by 1 October 1999. EMA payments of over £185,000 had been made by 1 October.

EMAs are an important and exciting new initiative, and early indications are that they are already making a real difference to young people in the pilot areas.