Students from a Basingstoke college got the chance to question their MP on major changes affecting them.
Conservative minister and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller met members of the student council at Basingstoke College of Technology.
On the students’ agenda was the Government’s decision to scrap the Education Maintance Allowance (EMA).
Colleges were told to stop accepting applications for EMA from January, although students already receiving the allowance will continue to do so for the rest of the academic year.
EMAs were introduced to encourage young people from deprived backgrounds to stay in education and training after the age of 16.
Students whose parents' earnings fall below certain thresholds received payments of £10, £20 or £30 a week.
Mrs Miller said she welcomed the chance to hear student’ views but stood behind the Governments decision.
She said: “I am always pleased to have the opportunity to meet students in Basingstoke and listen to their views and concerns. We had a good discussion about a number of areas of the Government’s education policies as well as other issues.
“Some of the students raised the ending of the EMA. The facts are that this £30 a week payment has done little to increase the number of young people from the poorest families staying on after the age of 16.
“I want to see more effective support for this group of young people who have been let down badly by the current system. The Government has pledged to deliver this support.”
