To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England who were entitled to education maintenance allowance did not receive any payments in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. (247137)

Eligibility for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is based on household income. The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not hold information on household income for every eligible 16to 18-year-old who participates in a course that meets the EMA valid provision criteria. Therefore it is not possible to calculate the number of students who were entitled to EMA but did not receive any payments or did not take up their entitlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what percentage of young people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England received education maintenance allowance in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09 to date; (247138)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Mark Haysom the LSC’s Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of young people in (a) North Wiltshire constituency, (b) Wiltshire, (c) Swindon and (d) England have received (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme began. (247224)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Mark Haysom the LSC’s Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the planned extension of the education maintenance allowance to include young people taking entry to employment courses have commenced. (247252)

From July 2008 all Entry to Employment (E2E) learners have received the maximum education maintenance allowance (EMA) regardless of their household income. Once a young person has completed their E2E programme and is ready to progress onto other post-16 provision they will be expected to apply again for EMA and will be subject to an income assessment the same as other EMA applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people entitled to the education maintenance allowance received no payments between 1 September 2008 and 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement. (248021)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The helpline, assessment and payment function for EMA has transferred to Capita as from 28 November 2008. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for Yeovil with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many education maintenance allowance claims have yet to be processed; and if he will make a statement; (248022)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The helpline, assessment and payment function for EMA transferred to Capita as from 28 November 2008. Mark Haysom, the LSC’s chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Yeovil with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many overdue education maintenance allowance payments there were at the latest date for which figures are available; and when he expects all overdue payments to have been made. (248197)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The helpline, assessment and payment function for EMA has transferred to Capita as from 28 November 2008. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for Stroud with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.