HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 cc779-80W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what percentage the pilot schemes suggest education maintenance allowances will improve progression rates into post sixteen education in deprived areas. [91837]

Margaret Hodge

The EMA pilot scheme has been subject to a rigorous and thorough evaluation study. The latest report was published on 3 July 2002.

The evaluation of the pilot scheme includes 10 of the original EMA pilot LEAs which are among the most deprived in England. Evidence from the evaluation indicates that within the group of young people eligible for EMA, participation in education in Y12 has increased by 5.9 percentage points. For the cohort of young people in these LEAs as a whole, this is equivalent to a participation gain of 3.7 percentage points.

In Year 13, due to an EMA induced improvement in retention, the gain in participation increases further to just over 7 percentage points among eligible young people which is equivalent to just over 4 percentage points for the cohort as a whole.

Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on diversity of supply in post-16 education. [91853]

Margaret Hodge

We are committed to ensuring that high quality post-16 education and training is available to meet the full range of learner, employer and community needs. In some areas this will require greater diversity in the supply of provision.

Following the publication of our strategy for reforming further education and training—'Success for All' in November 2002, we have asked each provider to set out their unique educational mission focusing on what they do best. Our strategy also identifies the need, where appropriate, for more discrete provision to meet the distinctive needs of 16 to 19-year-olds.

Alongside this, we have asked the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to undertake strategic area reviews to ensure the best mix of provision is supplied in each part of the country. These reviews will be undertaken locally in partnership with further education colleges and local education authorities and in consultation with a wide range of employer, learner, community and provider interests in each area.

The combination of unique provider missions and strategic area reviews will lead to greater diversity in post-16 education and training, to ensure improved choice, opportunity and success for all.