Clause 61
9:15 pm
David Laws (Yeovil, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment 142, in clause 61, page 40, line 22, at end add
‘but it may not make bonus payments under section 58(4)(a) which relate to attendance, academic performance or completion of course work.’.
The amendment is designed as a helpful probing amendment. I shall speak briefly. It invites the Government to withdraw any powers there might for the Young People’s Learning Agency to make bonus payments under the existing educational maintenance allowance or any other financial provision that the Government see fit to introduce. If the Government were to accept the amendment, they would be able to free up the £100 million or so that is used each year to make bonus payments. That money could be used instead to close the long-standing gap between funding those youngsters aged 16 and 17 who go to college and those who attend school.
I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say; I hope that he will accept the amendment.