To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will increase the education maintenance allowance from £30 a week. [HL4231]

The education maintenance allowance is an incentive paid direct to young people to encourage them to participate in post-compulsory learning. We have no evidence to suggest that the current rate of weekly payment does not provide the required incentive. Since it was introduced participation in post-16 learning has increased each year. EMA is not designed to meet all a young person's living costs—help with these is provided through child benefit and working tax credits, or through the benefit system provided through the Department for Work and Pensions.