REPLACEMENT OF EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

That this House is concerned that the Government's decision to replace theeducation maintenance allowance (EMA) with a 180 million bursary provides inadequate support for disadvantaged young people who wish to stay on in further education; notes that under the new scheme only 12,000 students will receive full funding; recognises that EMA helped 650,000 stay on in education and 75 per cent. of Gateway College in Hamilton, Leicester were eligible for EMA but under the new scheme the college estimates only 40 per cent. will receive financial assistance; further notes University and College Union research showing that 70 per cent. of students in the UK's poorest areas would drop out of college if their EMA were to be stopped; and calls on the Government to reconsider its plans to scrap the EMA.