Education Maintenance Allowance

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Wednesday 19th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)]

The Government’s website, Directgov, states:

“If you are struggling with the costs of learning speak to student services at your school, college or training provider about financial support you may be able to get.”

However, we are here to discuss the removal of this benefit—a benefit designed to help those whom the Government recognise as struggling, and designed to encourage young people and assist them with education and access to training.

The motion recognises the different situation in devolved Administrations, but it would be naive to think that the removal of EMA here will not have an effect in Northern Ireland, just as the recent increase in student tuition fees had an effect there. Indeed, my understanding is that the appropriate Department in Northern Ireland is considering introducing further restrictions on the provision of EMA in Northern Ireland, and perhaps even abolishing it. That is all the more likely given the Treasury’s recent removal of end-of-year flexibility, which places an even greater strain on the Department in Northern Ireland, and on the Department for Education.

The withdrawal of EMA comes on the back of the decision to increase student fees. It would appear that the coalition Government are adopting an education policy for the well-heeled, and ensuring that from an early age the less well-off are unable to participate in further and higher education. A few weeks ago, this Government made it impossible for many to attend university in future years, and today they will make it impossible for many who live in disadvantaged areas to take the first step on the further and higher education ladder.

Given the particular historical lack of access to further education for the poorest sections of society in Northern Ireland, we must do all we can to protect EMA and access to education and training opportunities, which offer vital help to those most in need of it. That will lessen the number of people who are economically inactive and ensure that more have access to educational opportunities.

In 2009-10, nearly 24,000 students were in receipt of EMA in Northern Ireland. That figure increased this year, but there have been smaller numbers in previous years. However, those figures are not the full story. There are a large number of students who depend on the provision, and for whom it has an integral bearing on their decision to apply for further education and to stay in further education once there. It gives them a sense of stability. The recent survey conducted by the University and Colleges Union and the Association of Colleges found that seven out of 10 students felt they would have to drop out of their course if EMA was withdrawn, and nearly two fifths stated that they would not have started their course without the provision of the grant.

There are many students in my constituency in Northern Ireland who have written to me declaring their opposition to the withdrawal of EMA here in Britain, because it is their fear that a similar path will be followed in Northern Ireland. This is the wrong direction to go, because it penalises, deprives and ensures that those who need that path to education and training will not have it. My party and I will support the Labour motion this evening and oppose the amendment.