16-19 Participation in education

Written Evidence Submitted by Sue Ballard

Please consider the impact that scrapping the EMA payments will have on middle class families. My daughter is 17 and currently studying Level 11 hairdressing full time at college.

As a family I am working single Mum of three, the EMA payments contribute in helping my daughter to travel to college and buy equipment as and when needed. The EMA payments also act as a reward in encouraging her to be punctual. Her attendance is excellent and each week she looks forward to payment as an incentive. What incentive will she have if you stop the payments?

I cannot afford to give my daughter an EMA payment, I am stretched to the limit financially as it is. I cannot cut back anymore than what I am already and the government are squeezing families like mine already.

25th March 2011