RESTORATION OF EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

That this House believes the withdrawal of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) was a grave error because this scheme had allowed 16 to 19 year olds from some of the poorest families access to further education; notes that its abolition has had a hugely detrimental impact according to UCAS figures with 56,000 fewer students staying on in the last academic year; and calls on the Government to restore the EMA, which would require only a modest investment, would broaden access to education and benefit the economy as a whole.