BBC News - Labour loses vote to stop scrapping of EMA grants

Education Maintenance Allowances should not be scrapped! They enable many young people to continue their education, which is good for them and our society. Its already targeted at those families who have less income and is not a large sum of money! Very bad decision by the Coalition Govt to go ahead with getting rid of them.
BBC News - Labour loses vote to stop scrapping of EMA grants

Campaigning earlier on EMAs Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP said :

"Scrapping EMA is one of the most damaging things this government could do. It would destroy the aspirations of so many young people, by wrecking their chances of further education."

"Scrapping EMA is the equivalent to a huge income tax rise for the families in question"

Green Party education spokesperson Rachel Fryer commented:

"The EMA helps to make further education accessible to the most vulnerable young people. There is evidence that it has reduced the number of young people not in employment, education or training, and has improved attendance and punctuality.

"This is yet another cut which will affect the poorest people in our society and widen the gap between rich and poor. Saving EMA is an important stepping stone towards a fairer and more equal society.

"Anyone whose children will no longer get EMA will have to find that extra cash themselves. If you take a parent earning £25,000 a year for example, whose child currently gets £20 a week EMA, for the parent to replace that £20 is the equivalent of more than a 20% increase in the parent's income tax."