I'm amazed that she is still peddling untruths as "facts"
EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) has indeed ceased BUT it was only ever payable to school attendees who qualified under rules laid down by Ms Harman's party. To qualify the pupil's family income had to be roughly at "benefits level" (whether benefits were claimed or not), the pupil had to be between 16 and 18 years of age and registered on a course of full time education, of not less that 30 hours per week, leading to A levels. The individual schools wrote the rules. For example to qualify the THW ALSO had to be marked present at every single class she was timetabled to attend. No excuses, not even a doctor's note. One class missed in a week and the £30 was not paid for that week. The school included in the qualifications the wearing of the appropriate uniform at all time and the participation, in the pupil's own time, in "approved" activities. These had to include one voluntary activity in the community. Some kids took the course and then spent two shifts a week manning the phones at "Childline", others (THW included) took the appropriate courses and qualified as assistants at Brownies, Cubs or similar. Some worked as unpaid assistants in care homes. Another, school related activity, was also compulsory, membership of choir, band or debating team counted ... again all practise and performances had to be in the pupil's own time. Only if all these were signed off by the school did the child get the £30 ... which incidentally is only paid during term time.
The Coalition Government has indeed stopped this .... but they have now made attendance on a recognised full time course of education or training compulsory to age 18. Parents in receipt of benefits will now continue to receive those benefits until the child is 18 and not 16 as previously happened. I cannot see how this is in anyway relevant to those who seem to be doing the looting
Tuition Fees Increase: Does not apply to anyone already in University so that rules out any looter/rioter between the age of 18 and 21 who is at Uni now. Nor do the increased fees apply to anyone entering Uni this October ~ they will go in at the fees as set by the last Government (The one Ms Harman belonged to) and, apart from the annual increase for inflation (as set by Ms Harman's Govt) will not pay any more for the duration of their degree course (three or four years). Those going to Uni this year who were in receipt of EMA last year will also be given an Educational Maintenance Grant for the duration. So the THW will have her tuition fees paid (£3500 approx) by the Government but will, as decreed by the last Government (Ms Harman's lot again) have to repay this once qualified and earning. On top she will receive a GRANT (not loan) of £5,500 pa. Although she qualifies for the maximum assistance any family where the household income is below £55K will be able to gain some assistance on a sliding scale dependant on income. Only those on more than £55Kpa will not get something. Again Ms Harman cannot ask us to believe that those looting and rioting are in anyway disadvantaged by the new Tuition Fees structure.
Job Centre Closures: OK so one Job Centre in her constituency is to be closed. There are, if memory serves, several more in that constituency. We used to recruit from them. Job Centres do not work these days, they are costly to operate and staff and they actually have little effect on jobless totals. There is no job shortage in London, Manchester or Birmingham. What there is a shortage of is suitably qualified and willing young people to fit the jobs that are available.
The woman talks nonsense ... as do most Labour MPs and supporters. The facts are set out above ~ Judge for yourselves.
