Weekly PQs - Wales.

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Monday 26 September, 2005     No. 235          ISSN 1748-7625

EPM Weekly PQs â€" Wales reports on written parliamentary questions on education from the Welsh Assembly and, if there are any, from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Written questions in Wales are answered in weekly batches. The most recent batch is that for the week ending 22 September 2005.

Welsh Assembly

Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning

Education Maintenance Allowance for Wales

Laura Anne Jones: Will the Minister state the uptake for the education maintenance allowance in Wales? (WAQ44009)

The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning (Jane Davidson): Interim figures on the take-up of the education maintenance allowance published at the end of January showed that 13,470 16-year-old students had applied for the EMA. This was consistent with projected figures. Year-end data is due to be published later this month. Student Loans Company management information suggests that the number of students awarded the EMA will have exceeded expectation.

Laura Anne Jones: What assessment has the Minister made of how the education maintenance grant benefits people living in Wales and will he make a statement? (WAQ44010)

Jane Davidson: Final data on the first year of the EMA scheme will be published later this month. The EMA was made available to eligible 16-year-old students in the first instance and is being extended to 17-year olds in 2005-06 and 18-year-olds the following year. The scheme has been introduced following extensive evaluation of pilot schemes in England and Scotland, and the EMA Wales consultative group will be monitoring its effectiveness in Wales during the three-year roll-out programme.

22 September 2005