FURTHER EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

Early day motion 1029, tabled 8 April 2003 by Teddy Taylor (Conservative). Signed by 33 members.

That this House notes the Government's objectives of encouraging life long learning and reducing the level of skills shortages in the economy and the acknowledgement in the recent Skills Strategy Progress Report that maintenance costs are a key obstacle for aged 19 and over; further notes the Foyer Federation's proposal to introduce a further education maintenance allowance for low income young people studying full time for level 2 and 3 qualifications; and calls upon the Government to address this issue, which would benefit up to 150,000 low income young adults each year who are currently not in education, employment or training, when they publish their final skills strategy in the summer.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 1.