25 November 2008
Schools Minister, Jim Knight, has today written to the Chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, Barry Sheerman, to update him on developments in relation to delivery of EMA grants.
A copy of his letter to Mr Sheerman follows below:
Mr Barry Sheerman MP
Chairman of the Children Schools and Families Select Committee
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
November 2008
When I wrote to you on 19 November about delivery of learner support schemes I indicated that as of the day before there were 12,016 applications for EMA in the process of being finalised. This information was drawn from statistics provided to the LSC by Liberata.
Since then, in response to emerging concerns about the methodology being used by Liberata to calculate the work in progress statistics, and to ensure that the figures were accurate in advance of the transfer of the contract to Capita, the LSC commissioned a full count of the outstanding applications. This analysis was made possible by the relatively small number of applications still remaining.
Liberata’s physical count on 21 November recorded that there were around 26,000 applications in the process of being finalised. The LSC advises me that the new figure represents a more accurate reflection of the outstanding number of applications. However, once the contract has transferred, Capita will review these figures in more detail.
Clearly this is unsatisfactory. I have therefore today written to Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the LSC, asking for a full explanation as to why the issue with the methodology for calculating the statistics had not been revealed sooner. A copy of this letter is attached.
Although this revised figure is disappointing it needs to be set in the context of continuing progress on clearing applications. Currently 6,000 applications are being processed per day and I am advised that there is currently a net reduction of around 3,000 per day.
I am sending a copy of this letter to David Laws, Nick Gibb and John Denham and am placing a copy in the House Library
Rt Hon Jim Knight MP
Mark Haysom CBE
Chief Executive
Learning and Skills Council
Cheylesmore House
Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
November 2008
I am writing to express my concern about the new ‘work in progress’ figures for EMA applications supplied to my Department yesterday. I understand that in the light of concerns about the methodology being used by Liberata to calculate the work in progress statistics, a full count of outstanding applications was commissioned. These figures showed that on 21 November there were approximately 26 000 outstanding applications – more than double the figure I reported to Parliament on 19 November.
Whilst I appreciate that a manual count has only been possible now that there is a relatively small number of applications remaining, I am extremely concerned that this puts in doubt the figures I have reported to Parliament and has given me an inaccurate picture for learners. I am therefore requesting your urgent analysis of the robustness of the full set of processing statistics as well as your reassurance about the reliability of the data going forward once the contract transfers to Capita.
I am sending a copy of this letter to John Denham.
Rt Hon Jim Knight MP
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
None
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2008/0266
Copyright © 2025 · All Rights Reserved · Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation
Warning: Undefined array key "User_id" in /home/irrvnet/public_html/forumalert/inc_footer.php on line 4