To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England have received education maintenance allowance in each year since its inception; (321112)

This information is held by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). I have asked the LSC’s chief executive, Geoff Russell, to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 5 March 2010:

I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Questions 321112, 313484 and 313485.

Information on the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.

The following table shows EMA take-up during each academic year since inception for England, the North East, South Tyneside Local Authority area and Gateshead Local Authority area.

In comparing across years, it is important to understand that national roll-out was phased over several years. In the first year EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas. In 2005/06 EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. From 2006/07 EMA was available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally.

EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 is available on the LSC website, at the following address:

http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm