|
Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
 |
David Ward MP <>
Bradford MP calls for rethink on E.M.A
January 19, 2011 5:00 PM
Bradford MP David Ward has today spoken out against the Government's plans to abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance
The grant of up to £30 per week is paid to children from low-income families to help them to meet the additional costs of education after the age of 16 such as travel and equipment. The Government intends to abolish the Education Allowance, and no new applications have been accepted since the beginning of this year.
In Parliament today local Liberal Democrat MP David Ward has spoken out against the move, calling for both sides to engage in a constructive dialogue around how support can be better targeted to those who need it.
EMA is claimed by over 9000 people in Bradford, 90% of whom are on the highest rate as they come from households with an income below £21,000.
Commenting David Ward said:
"I want the government to look again at this decision. There are huge opportunities being created for pupils from deprived backgrounds to go into higher education at little or no cost, but this will count for nothing if they don't have qualifications they need to get a university place.
"Scrapping EMA will particularly disadvantage college students who also lose their entitlements to free school meals and travel. We have to make the choice on post-16 education a fair one - money should not be the deciding factor.
"There is a case for reform of the EMA which has become open to fraud and abuse, costs over £30m to administer and treats college students unfairly compared to those who stay on at school. Both sides need to engage in a grown up discussion about what that reform should be."