Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Sally Keeble (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 8 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Question: I thank my hon. Friend and our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the constructive meeting to talk about EMAs with young people from Northampton. May I stress the fact that a number of young people who are at university in Northampton were able to go only because they received an EMA to stay on at secondary school and finish their A-levels?

Answer: The Secretary of State and I really enjoyed our meeting with students from my hon. Friend's constituency. They convinced me—if I needed convincing —that EMAs are an absolutely essential part of what we offer to young people as they go forward and participate in education and training post-16. Let me be absolutely clear with the House and, in particular, with my hon. Friend, who really supports that policy agenda. No ifs, no buts: we will continue to maintain education maintenance allowance from 16 onwards. That way we think that we can break the cycle between household income and educational attainment; and that way we can have real social justice in this country.

Secondary information