§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of additional young people who stayed on at school or college in the pilot areas for the education maintenance allowances. [124376]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 5 June 2000]We are encouraged by the early findings from the 15 EMA pilot areas, which is why we have decided to extend the pilot to an extra 40 areas from this September. Statistical evidence gathered suggests that participation in the EMA pilot areas has increased by over five percentage points, compared with an increase of three percentage points in the control areas selected, and two percentage points nationally. We do not have information about the actual numbers involved, because the number of young people in each pilot area cohort varies from year to year.
We are undertaking a detailed evaluation exercise which will, in time, give more detailed information about the impact of the EMA on post-16 participation and achievement.