Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has spoken out against the Coalition’s decision to abolish Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) during a debate on the issue in Parliament this afternoon.

Catherine said:

“I am incredibly concerned about the Government’s decision to abolish EMA. My views are shared by schools, colleges and families across Newcastle who have contacted me to express their extreme anxiety at this move.

“3,700 young people from lower income backgrounds in Newcastle received EMA last year, helping them to stay in post-16 education. I know that for a large number of these students, EMA has made the difference between continuing their education and not being able to – with many young people using the allowance towards their transport and food costs.

“My main concern is that abolishing EMA will lead to fewer young people from disadvantaged backgrounds going on to higher education and failing to fulfil their potential. Taking EMA away from these young people is effectively removing a bridge that currently exists between the ages of 16 and 19.

“EMA is also currently available to eligible young people undertaking a course that leads to an Apprenticeship. With a particular interest in this area, I am very worried that the Coalition’s EMA cut will see a reduction in the number of young people able to begin an Apprenticeship.

“I particularly want to know what transitional support will be put in place for the thousands of students across Newcastle and the North East who are mid-way through their studies, having commenced their courses in good faith and in the belief that EMA would be in place. How could they think otherwise when both the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary promised before the election that they had no plans to abolish EMA?”