4th April 2011

LOCAL LABOUR MP HELPS TO SAVE EMA FOR 2,837 TEENAGERS IN HOUNSLOW

FIGHT GOES ON TO SECURE BETTER SUPPORT FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE

2,837 teenagers in Hounslow will be breathing a sigh of relief after Local Labour MP Alan Keen and the Save EMA campaign forced the Tory-led government into an embarrassing climbdown on the education maintenance allowance (EMA).

David Cameron has broken his promise to young people and scrapped the EMA, which is not only unfair to young people, but the wrong long-term decision for our country.

But under threat of legal challenge the Tory-led Government have agreed to honour their commitments to students who are halfway through their course.

Local MP Alan Keen and the Save EMA campaign forced the government to back track due to the threat of legal action on behalf of students who believe their two-year contracts for study had been breached by the decision to axe the EMA.

This means that 250,000 of the poorest students in England and 2,837 in Hounslow can breathe a sigh of relief. But the fight goes on to secure better support for other young people who have lost out as a result of the Government’s broken promises.

Working with the national campaign group Save EMA, local MP Alan Keen has been raising the issue of EMA at Westminster.

Alan Keen MP said:

“The government's reckless decision to scrap the EMA will really hurt students and their families in Hounslow, but thanks to the Labour party and the Save EMA campaign over a quarter of a million students will not have to worry about whether they can continue at college next year.

“We had to really push for this - it’s not enough but at least 2,837 young people and their families in Hounslow will get some support next year. Six months ago this government was saying under no circumstances were they going to reverse their decision.

“Before the election both the Lib Dems and Tories promised not to scrap the EMA. They have broken this promise, but at least Labour has forced them to honour their commitment to those students halfway through their course.”

Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham MP said:

“It is a small victory for Labour and the Save EMA campaign that the poorest students who are halfway through their course will continue to receive financial support next year. 

“But Michael Gove and David Cameron should have kept their promise to retain the EMA. The replacement scheme will help fewer students and leave many in the dark over whether or not they are eligible for financial support. Michael Gove has taken a successful scheme that boosted participation, attendance and attainment and turned it into a shambles.

“Young people are bearing the brunt of this chaotic Government. With youth unemployment at almost one million we should be investing in young people – not making things harder for them.”

James Mills, who runs the Save EMA campaign, said:

"David Cameron promised the Save EMA campaign before the election that he supported EMA and Michael Gove promised not to scrap it.

“It is thanks to Alan Keen MP and the Labour party that we have managed to force a partial climbdown from the Government but we need to carry on as they are still planning to cut the money to 16-19 year olds who want to stay in further education by 70%. Governments should help not hinder young people in places like Hounslow.

“It feels sometimes that this Tory-led government is completely out of touch with ordinary people and especially young people who are struggling to get by and just want to get an education.”

1.    The Government has ended the Education Maintenance Allowance for all new applicants but has agreed some transitional protection for those students who are halfway through their course. It means that any student who is currently receiving the top rate of EMA will get some financial support next year. If they started their course in 2009/10 academic year and are receiving EMA then they will continue to get the exact same EMA payments they are receiving now.  If they started their course in 2010/11 and are on the top rate of £30 a week then they will receive £20 a week payment next year instead of none at all.

2.    To find out how many recipients of EMA there are in your area please see the attached spreadsheet. 44% of EMA recipients are estimated to be halfway through their course so just multiply recipients in your area by 0.44 to estimate how many are helped by this policy change.

3.    For more information please visit: www.SaveEMA.co.uk