Tories demand pupil grant inquiry

Students on EMA can get up to £30 a week An independent inquiry must be held into the problems hitting this year's pupil allowances, the Tories have said. Several weeks after term began many thousands of teenagers in England have not received the grant aimed at helping them stay in school or college. The Tories want the inquiry to look at why a £75m contract was given to a firm, Liberata, which has been criticised over contracts in the past. Ministers said their main concern was that everyone should get their money. Since early September parents, students and teachers have been reporting serious problems reminiscent of the Sats fiasco, with blocked help lines and a failed new online computer system. Thousands of pupils have not received the money they're entitled to and it looks as if many are not having their applications... [read full story]