Lib Dems and Tories end EMA support for Hull youngsters

Thousands of young people in Hull were today betrayed as MPs voted to endorse Government plans to scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The vote in the House of Commons came as thousands of students marched on Westminster against EMA abolition. The move comes against a background of university funding cuts, the trebling of tuition fees and the abolition of the Future Jobs Fund.

Hull North Labour MP Diana Johnson voted with Labour colleagues against the abolition of EMA.

Introduced by the previous Labour Government in 2004, the EMA scheme was axed in the Spending Review last year. This was despite promises by David Cameron before the election that the payments would be safe.

Around 5,000 young people in Hull rely on EMA payments to help with basics such as equipment and books. With the payments being axed this year, many could find it hard to make ends meet and choose not to continue their education.

Independent studies have shown that EMA increased the number of students remaining in education who otherwise would not have done so. The scheme also helped to raise attainment amongst disadvantaged young people.

Speaking after a Labour motion to save EMA was voted down by 317 votes to 258, Diana Johnson MP said: "Around 5,000 young people in Hull will be hit by the withdrawal of EMA. This includes, for example, 698 at Wyke College in Hull North 57% of their students.

"Before the election, in full knowledge of the deficit, the Conservatives pledged to keep EMA payments. Now, helped by their Lib Dem backers, they have voted to go back on yet another promise to young people. They are replacing the £580 million EMA with a vague scheme worth only £80 million.

"I want to see young people from poorer backgrounds staying on at school, going to college, getting an apprenticeship or doing some form of training while at work. That's why Labour introduced EMA.

"Axing EMA could mean thousands of students failing to reach their full potential, their talents wasted, their aspirations frustrated and their life opportunities dashed. This decision will leave more Hull young people not in education, employment or training and it comes on a day when youth unemployment reached a new record high.

"The most disadvantaged young people are yet again bearing the greatest burden of cutting the deficit not that ending EMA will be much help in this, as the benefits of EMA made the scheme self-financing.

"Labour would be happy to work with the Government to improve the EMA's effectiveness, but the Conservative-led Government has voted to scrap it instead."

Andy Burnham, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Education said: "EMA has given thousands of young people the chance to stay on and excel in education when they otherwise might have missed out. From the PM downwards, commitments were given that EMA was safe which have now been broken - another betrayal of young people.

"For those with the biggest challenges in life, EMA has been proven to boost attainment and help them succeed. The loss of EMA coupled with £9000 a year fees means that students from poorer families will be left thinking that post-16 education isn't for them, meaning that thousands may fail to reach their full potential."

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