§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action her Department is taking to provide financial support to low paid families whose children take vocational qualifications when they leave school. [51302]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThere are two principal sources of support for young people taking vocational qualifications in schools or colleges, both administered by DfES. Further Education Learner Support Funds help students aged 16–19 who are from low income families or who face a particular financial difficulty. Payments are made to eligible students in school 6th forms and FE colleges for course related costs, including transport, child care, residential and hardship funding. In 2002–03, the Department increased overall discretionary support funding for young people in FE to £54 million, an 304W increase of £10 million since 2000–01. It is not possible to say how much of this funding was received by young people studying for vocational qualifications.
In addition to the Learner Support Fund, the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is also available to young people in full-time further education in 56 pilot areas in England. In 2001–02, around £100 million will have been spent in the 56 pilot areas, with anticipated spend for 2002–03 of £156 million. Again, it is not possible to say how much of this funding was received by young people taking vocational courses.
For young people in work-based training, which does not attract a wage, we provide support through the Minimum Training Allowance (MTA). The MTA is currently worth at least £40 per week, although the local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) who administer MTA are able to pay higher local rates. In addition to weekly payments, local LSCs are also able to assist young people on MTA in difficult financial circumstances by giving additional help towards costs such as transport and the purchase of learning equipment etc.
In all these cases, payment is made directly to the young person, with the exception of some of the EMA pilots where the option of payment to a parent or guardian is being trialed.
Support for families is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue. Child benefit and any child allowances paid with other benefits and tax credits are paid to families with children under 16, or to families with children over 16 but under 19 who are continuing in full-time non-advanced further education. The new child tax credit, to be introduced in April 2003, continues that practice.