Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today welcomed the news that Liberata, the back office function company, has forfeited its six year contract to administer Educational Maintenance Allowances which help students stay on in education.

The multi-million pound contract is to end after only one year on the orders of the Learning and Skills Council.

Speaking from Westminster, the MP said:

“This is absolutely the right decision.  The horror stories I have heard from people who worked for Liberata and then were sacked after five weeks made my hair stand on end.  Our first priority should be the 40,000 students who are still waiting for their EMA payments to come through.  The way in which this whole thing has been handled is deplorable.”

The MP last night called on the Speaker of the House of Commons to give him a debate next week on the fiasco.