Ward welcomes EMA replacement announcement
Bradford MP, David Ward, has welcomed a package of measures to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds to stay on in education as demonstration of Liberal Democrat influence in government.
The package, which was unveiled today by the Education Secretary, will form part of the replacement to the Education Maintenance Allowance, which is being wound down this year.
The Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes, has played a significant part in drawing up the proposals, acting as the Government's Advocate for Access to Education.
Speaking in the House of Commons, David Ward strongly welcomed the measures, which include:
- A new targeted scheme worth £160 million to help the poorest to stay on in education. This will be a discretionary fund administered by schools and colleges.
- A £194 million transitional support fund for those currently on EMA. All students in receipt of the full rate will get at least £20 per week, and those currently receiving £20 will continue to receive £10, with further discretionary support available.
- An additional £15 million of support for the most vulnerable people such as those on income support or in care.
Commenting, David Ward said:
"This is why the Liberal Democrats are part of the Coalition. Scrapping EMA without a proper replacement was something which I and many Liberal Democrats up and down the country could not support, and I voted against it in the Commons.
"My colleague Simon Hughes has been working with the Government on this issue since the Autumn, and this very welcome package of measures is the result. It deals with many of the shortcomings of EMA whilst ensuring that that people from poorer backgrounds get the targeted support they need to stay on in education. In fact the least well-off will actually get more support than they do now.
"I also very much welcome the transitional support available so that those already receiving EMA don't have the rug pulled out from under them. This is good news for the 9000 thousand young people in Bradford who currently get EMA payments each week.
"This is another example of the real influence that the Liberal Democrats are having to make this Government fairer and to support greater equality of opportunity in our society."