HL Deb 30 March 2000 vol 611 cc92-3WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made on the pilot scheme to provide education maintenance allowances for 16 year-olds and on what basis those involved were selected for the allowance. [HL1666]

Baroness Blackstone

The education maintenance allowance (EMA) pilots started in September 1999. The pilots are at an early stage but we are encouraged by progress so far. There is considerable anecdotal evidence that the EMA is making a real difference to young people's attendance and effort, and in time this should result in better attainment. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State has announced that we will be extending the pilot scheme from September 2000, with additional funds made available by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget.

Three main factors were used to select the EMA pilot areas. We focused on areas with high deprivation levels, low levels of participation in post-16 education and low attainment at GCSE. In addition, we took into account whether the LEA would provide a statistically reliable sample size.

Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many 16 year-olds have benefited from the pilot scheme to provide education maintenance allowances for 16 year-olds. [HL1667]

Baroness Blackstone

The latest figures show that 14,122 young people are currently receiving EMAs in the 15 pilot areas.

Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the pilot scheme to provide education maintenance allowances for 16 year-olds is funded. [HL1678]

Baroness Blackstone

The education maintenance allowance (EMA) pilots have been funded entirely from new money provided by the Government for this purpose. The Budget included an announcement that a further £50 million is being spent to expand the EMA pilots from September 2000. The expenditure is all "demand led" and the pilot authorities reclaim the money that they spend on EMAs from a Standards Fund set up especially for this purpose.

Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When it is planned to extend the pilot scheme to provide education maintenance allowances for 16 year-olds to all 16 year-olds. [HL1679]

Baroness Blackstone

We started piloting education maintenance allowances (EMAs) in 15 areas from September 1999. We will be introducing a small number of specialist pilots from this September, to test the effectiveness of a specific payment for transport costs. In addition, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has announced that a further £50 million will be made available to extend EMAs in additional areas from this September.

By September 2000, approximately 30 per cent of sixteen year-olds will be in areas eligible for an EMA. We are convinced that the EMA has the potential to make a real difference to young people's life chances. However, no firm decisions have been taken about any further extensions and we are continuing to evaluate the pilots.