HC Deb 11 March 2004 vol 418 cc1727-8W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has carried out, in addition to the three-year assessments, to assess the impact of education maintenance allowances on participating in the Government-supported training; and if he will make a statement. [155439]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

[holding answer 23 February 2004]: Evaluation findings show that the national EMA scheme is expected to increase participation in education at Year 12 by 3.8 per cent. and at Year 13 by 4.1 per cent. Evidence from the pilot EMA areas shows that little of the increase in participation through EMA is from Government Supported Training. Over half of the increase in participation through EMA is from young people who would otherwise not be in any education, employment or training, and most others are from work without training. There is some evidence from the pilot areas that suggests an increased flow into Government Supported Training at 18.

Overall EMA supports a range of learning up to level 3. This includes young people doing quality assured NVQs and vocational courses in FE colleges that often incorporate work placements.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of educational maintenance allowances in improving participation rates in post-16 education. [156634]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

In the pilots, EMA increased participation by 16-year-olds in education by 5.9 per cent. points. Judged against historic trends, this represents a major increase. Our evaluators predict that in the first year of the national scheme, some 35,000 additional young people will participate in further education, and this will rise to over 70,000 per year when EMA is fully in place.