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Employment, Universities and Skills and Housing

That is an important point. The hon. Gentleman will know that we have had to change the contractor supplying that service, and it is working hard to clear up the backlog and ensure that those young people receive their EMA. The allowance has been a considerable success in encouraging young people to stay in further education and training. Again, in contrast to the Opposition, we are committed to that. I am sorry, this is becoming a little routine, but people who say that there is nothing to choose between the two parties need to pay slightly more attention to the differences between us in the areas that we are debating. I was about to move on to higher education, in which we have made a significant investment. The Opposition, however, have tended to indicate that they want to return to the unfunded expansion of higher education. I remind the House of what Lord Patten recently told The Guardian about higher education policy when his party was in power. He said that"““we expanded higher education hugely by reducing the investment in each student. The Treasury calls that higher productivity—it's a euphemism for poorer pay, degraded facilities, less money to support the teaching of each student””." We have been warned.