Student woes

The Education Maintenance Allowance is a great idea. It is a weekly payment of up to £30 per week to students whose families are not particularly well off, designed to encourage them to stay in education rather than drop out.

The private sector firm responsible for delivering the scheme, Liberata, and who have offices in Nelson, failed utterly, leaving thousands of students without their cash for months on end.

Here I am, raising the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions. Later that day it was announced Liberata’s contract was being terminated. Quite right too.

You can read my special adjournment debate on the fiasco on this website in the Campaigns section at
http://www.gordonprenticemp.com/index.php/pendle-news/campaigns