This briefing explains how the rising cost of living has affected further and higher education students in the UK.

This briefing explains how the rising cost of living has affected further and higher education students in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of abolishing the Educational Maintenance Allowance on social mobility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of abolishing the Educational Maintenance Allowance on social mobility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the impact of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund with the Educational Maintenance Allowance on social mobility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the impact of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund with the Educational Maintenance Allowance on social mobility.

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper provides a summary of how funding for 16-19 education in England has changed since 2010.

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper provides a summary of how funding for 16-19 education in England has changed since 2010.

Did the abolition of the education maintenance allowance contribute to or hinder social mobility?

Did the abolition of the education maintenance allowance contribute to or hinder social mobility?

With the alternative funding that was put in place, it was possible for sixth-form colleges to do other things to ensure that they were attracting the full range of students. More disadvantaged youngsters are going on to university than ever before.

With the alternative funding that was put in place, it was possible for sixth-form colleges to do other things to ensure that they were attracting the full range of students. More disadvantaged youngsters are going on to university than ever before.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research his Department has conducted on the effect of the removal of Education Maintenance Allowance on families where a child received that allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research his Department has conducted on the effect of the removal of Education Maintenance Allowance on families where a child received that allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of restoring the education maintenance allowance for 16 to 18-year-olds in each parental income decile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of restoring the education maintenance allowance for 16 to 18-year-olds in each parental income decile.

I beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add:

“but respectfully regret that the Gracious Speech fails to end austerity in public services, to reverse falling living standards and to make society more equal; further regret that it contains no reference to an energy price cap...

I beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add:

“but respectfully regret that the Gracious Speech fails to end austerity in public services, to reverse falling living standards and to make society more equal; further regret that it contains no reference to an energy price cap...

This Commons Library research briefing provides information about direct financial support for 16-19 bursaries for young people in further education in England. It covers eligibility criteria, the scheme's impact, and includes some background on the predecessor Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme.

This Commons Library research briefing provides information about direct financial support for 16-19 bursaries for young people in further education in England. It covers eligibility criteria, the scheme's impact, and includes some background on the predecessor Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities (a) offer or (b) have offered an education maintenance allowance since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities (a) offer or (b) have offered an education maintenance allowance since 2010.

The purpose of the education maintenance allowance was to raise educational participation. Our reforms, including targeted routes to employment for all 16 to 19-year-olds and the creation of 3 million apprenticeships, deliver far higher participation and attainment than EMA on its own ever did.

The purpose of the education maintenance allowance was to raise educational participation. Our reforms, including targeted routes to employment for all 16 to 19-year-olds and the creation of 3 million apprenticeships, deliver far higher participation and attainment than EMA on its own ever did.

In Scotland, EMA provides a lifeline of support for talented young people from a low-income background to give them access to decent opportunities. In England, EMA has been yet another casualty of the Government’s austerity obsession. Why has the Minister not followed the lead of the Scottish Government, who have not only retained EMA support but from January will expand that key support to an additional 12,000 students in Scotland?

In Scotland, EMA provides a lifeline of support for talented young people from a low-income background to give them access to decent opportunities. In England, EMA has been yet another casualty of the Government’s austerity obsession. Why has the Minister not followed the lead of the Scottish Government, who have not only retained EMA support but from January will expand that key support to an additional 12,000 students in Scotland?

I thank the hon. Lady for her question and congratulate her on her recent engagement to a Conservative councillor. I did not think such things were possible, but they are yet another reminder that there are ways in which we are better together.

I draw the hon. Lady’s attention to the point made by the Scottish Education Minister on narrowing the gap: children from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland are seven times less likely to attain three A grades in their highers than their most affluent peers. There are no lessons that we can take from Scotland on narrowing the gap.

I thank the hon. Lady for her question and congratulate her on her recent engagement to a Conservative councillor. I did not think such things were possible, but they are yet another reminder that there are ways in which we are better together.

I draw the hon. Lady’s attention to the point made by the Scottish Education Minister on narrowing the gap: children from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland are seven times less likely to attain three A grades in their highers than their most affluent peers. There are no lessons that we can take from Scotland on narrowing the gap.

Of course in Scotland, when we put together our figures on further and higher education and compare them with figures put together on further and higher education in England, Scotland is leading.

As a teacher, I am only too aware of how important EMA is for keeping talented young people not in apprenticeships but in education, so what steps has the Minister taken to ensure that youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds can continue to access further and higher education?

Of course in Scotland, when we put together our figures on further and higher education and compare them with figures put together on further and higher education in England, Scotland is leading.

As a teacher, I am only too aware of how important EMA is for keeping talented young people not in apprenticeships but in education, so what steps has the Minister taken to ensure that youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds can continue to access further and higher education?

Education is a devolved matter in Scotland, but if we are talking about huge cuts, there were 141,726 fewer college places in 2013-14 than in 2008-09. As I said, we will take no lessons from the Scottish National party.

Education is a devolved matter in Scotland, but if we are talking about huge cuts, there were 141,726 fewer college places in 2013-14 than in 2008-09. As I said, we will take no lessons from the Scottish National party.

What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the abolition of the education maintenance allowance on educational participation and attainment inequality.

What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the abolition of the education maintenance allowance on educational participation and attainment inequality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the allocation of the education maintenance allowance on participation rates in post-16 education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the allocation of the education maintenance allowance on participation rates in post-16 education.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much government funding has been made available for the Education Maintenance Allowance and its replacement Bursary Fund each year since 2010.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much government funding has been made available for the Education Maintenance Allowance and its replacement Bursary Fund each year since 2010.